Gold hovering catfish

Chandramara chandramara

Also known as Hovering catfish, Asian dwarf bumblebee cat

FreshwaterFish

Gold hovering catfish (Chandramara chandramara) — Gregoire Germeau · CC BY 3.0

Care at a glance

Temperature: 68–79°F (20–26°C)
pH: 6.0–7.5
Adult size: 2 in (5 cm)
Minimum tank: 21 gal (80 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Schooling
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: No record
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Ganges and Brahmaputra lowlands, India and Bangladesh
Family: Bagridae

Overview

Unusually for a bagrid catfish, this little fish lives in open midwater rather than skulking on the bottom, hovering in loose formation on its outstretched fins. It is a shoaling species, so keep it in a group of at least six, and ideally more, or single fish grow shy and hide away. It is small at about 5 centimeters and very peaceful, mixing well with other calm, small community fish such as rasboras and small danios. It can be a fussy eater, so tempt it with small frozen and live foods like bloodworm, daphnia, and cyclops, along with fine sinking foods. A planted tank of around 80 liters with gentle flow suits a group.

In the wild

It comes from slow, lowland stretches of the Ganges and Brahmaputra systems in India and Bangladesh, including quiet, well-vegetated rivers and channels. Give it a planted tank with driftwood, some open midwater to hover in, and gentle filtration rather than strong current. Keep the temperature a little cool at 20 to 26 C and the water soft to neutral, around pH 6.0 to 7.5. Plenty of plants and shade help it feel secure enough to stay out in the open.

Good to know

Chandramara chandramara, also known as Rama chandramara, is a small bagrid in the family Bagridae, reaching about 5 centimeters. It is the only species in its genus, and its name is a tautonym, with genus and species names identical, drawn from a local Bengali name recorded by Francis Hamilton in 1822. Where most bagrids are heavy-bodied bottom fish, this one is built light for hovering in midwater. Aquarium breeding is not recorded.

Did you know

Most catfish stay glued to the bottom, but this bagrid hovers in open midwater, holding position on its pectoral fins like a tiny helicopter. Its name is also a tautonym, spelled the same for both genus and species.

Tank mates

Gold hovering catfish is a peaceful, schooling species that keeps to the middle. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.