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Asian stone catfish

Hara jerdoni

Also known as Dwarf anchor catfish, Moth catfish, Anchor catfish

FreshwaterFish

Asian stone catfish (Hara jerdoni)

Care at a glance

Temperature
64–75°F
18–24°C
pH
5.6–7.6
Adult size
1.6 in
4 cm
Minimum tank
11 gal
40 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Common
Family
Sisoridae
Origin
Native to rivers of northeastern India and Bangladesh.

Overview

The Asian stone catfish is a peaceful nano oddball for a small, cool tank. It is moderately demanding to keep.

Did you know

The Asian stone catfish can vanish completely on the substrate. Keepers often lose track of their whole group until feeding time.

Caring for the Asian stone catfish

A small group of Asian stone catfish is happy in a well-planted tank of at least 11 gal (40 L). Provide fine sand, leaf litter, driftwood and gentle flow.

The water must stay cool, clean and highly oxygenated, at 64 to 75°F (18 to 24°C) and a pH of 5.6 to 7.6. It is not a fish for a warm tropical community.

It is a picky feeder that wants small meaty frozen and live foods, such as baby brine shrimp, cyclops and bloodworm. It often ignores dry food.

It does best in a group of six or more. Keep it only with equally tiny, gentle tank mates, since it is too small and slow to compete with anything boisterous.

Good to know

Hara jerdoni belongs to the small South Asian hillstream catfish group, often placed in the family Erethistidae within the sisorid catfishes. Its mottled brown body and long pectoral spines mimic a dead leaf or twig on the streambed. It is a delicate, slow-moving bottom feeder. It is also sold as the dwarf anchor catfish, moth catfish or anchor catfish.

In the wild

The Asian stone catfish lives in cool, clear, shaded streams and leaf-littered pools of northeastern India and Bangladesh. It sits among sunken leaves and roots.

From published sources

Tank mates

Each fish here is named as a tank mate for the Asian stone catfish by at least two published care guides. Keep the Hara in a small group on soft sand, in cool, clean water with plenty of oxygen.

Sources: Seriously Fish, Practical Fishkeeping.

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Common questions

What size tank does an Asian stone catfish need?

An Asian stone catfish needs at least 11 gal (40 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does an Asian stone catfish need?

An Asian stone catfish is comfortable at 64–75°F (18–24°C) with a pH of 5.6–7.6.

What does an Asian stone catfish eat?

An Asian stone catfish eats small meaty frozen and live foods, such as baby brine shrimp, cyclops and bloodworm. It is picky and often ignores dry food.

How big does an Asian stone catfish get?

An adult Asian stone catfish reaches about 1.6 in (4 cm).

What fish can live with the Asian stone catfish?

Published care guides name Celestial Pearl danio, zebra danio and scarlet badis. Keep the Hara in a small group on soft sand, in cool, clean water with plenty of oxygen.

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