The genus Batrochoglanis was formerly placed in Pseudopimelodus. Batrochoglanis can be best distinguished from Psedopimelodus by the shape of the caudal fin. Pseudopimelodus has a deeply forked caudal fin, Batrochoglanis only a slightly indented one.

 

Currently five species of Batrochoglanis are accepted. We obtain occasionally specimens of that genus from Colombia, which fit perfectly in all respects to the described species B. raninus, with one exception: the fish stay small! Usually B. raninus should be a fast growing species that becomes 15-20 cm long. But neither could our supplier ever deliver larger specimens nor did they grow much in our facility. The largest specimens observed so far were about 8 cm long (including caudal fin). It seems that the larger and heavier fish are the females.

 

Batrochoglanis are night-active fish that love to hide themselves. They are very peaceful to all other fish that do not fit the mouth. Although one cannot say that Batrochoglanis are social animals, the cluster in large aggregation in the plastic tubes we offer for the as hiding places.

 

Photos & Text Frank Schäfer