Very nice work tracking! Taxonomy is always tricky, it may be worth getting a blood sample or something similar for genetic work without having to off your potentially rare fish. Best of luck!
The BIG Reveal - Chitala lopis
- Thread starter SourAngelfish
- Start date
Although unfinished (I’m not 100% with the scape), I am very pleased with this tank. Excited to happily house the chitala in it until it’s inevitable outgrowing..
for anyone curious, growth has been around .5 inches a month. I’m starting to notice the nape of this fish is quite odd compared to the more common chitala. All of these are frames from a single video, it’s weird to note that the pectoral spot fades in/out throughout the video. There in some pics and absent near the end.
Added 5 wetmorei barbs yesterday, doing well with the dawkinsia trio. Coming to be quite the interesting tank. Need some updated full tank shots tonight.
I’ve also finalized stock list on this tank as I grow out the fish… lastly, I am very excited to announce that I will be able to keep this fish in my possession for atleast another 5years, had some big changes coming up and was a bit anxious I would have to pass him on…
stock list :
Chitala
2 Batrochoglanis
Biscutatus Giraffe Catfish
Hemidoras morrisi
5 wetmorei/lemon barbs (one did not ship)
6 dawkinsia barbs
3 Apogon barbs
Hoping this is a good group. Was considering adding hampala but I did not want to take any attention away from the centerpiece. The fish completely hides when lights are on for the plants, thus the barbs give it flair in the day. At night the barbs seem to settle near the surface and the chitala swims around gracefully. Quite happy with the tank as of current. I would like to maybe switch up the scape so any suggestions are more than welcome!
I’ve also finalized stock list on this tank as I grow out the fish… lastly, I am very excited to announce that I will be able to keep this fish in my possession for atleast another 5years, had some big changes coming up and was a bit anxious I would have to pass him on…
stock list :
Chitala
2 Batrochoglanis
Biscutatus Giraffe Catfish
Hemidoras morrisi
5 wetmorei/lemon barbs (one did not ship)
6 dawkinsia barbs
3 Apogon barbs
Hoping this is a good group. Was considering adding hampala but I did not want to take any attention away from the centerpiece. The fish completely hides when lights are on for the plants, thus the barbs give it flair in the day. At night the barbs seem to settle near the surface and the chitala swims around gracefully. Quite happy with the tank as of current. I would like to maybe switch up the scape so any suggestions are more than welcome!
As for updates on the conservation of the ‘extinct’ fish, I have some interesting anecdotal updates from a few natives from Indonesia I have come across.
supposedly research has to be authorized by the government in these areas, keep this in mind. This also relates back to my earlier statement from the museum curator that told me they were unable to genetically test their specimen they found. As far as I am aware, it is illegal to research without authorization/warrant. May make things difficult on the Asian front…
now for the anecdotal details: from discussing with a few people, including Jeff Rapps, it seems that Chitala lopis slipping through the cracks is more likely than another Indonesian chitala species being imported. I have concluded this as Borneo and Sumatra are heavily restricted as for tropical fish exports…Java on the other hand does not seem to share this strict manner. I have talked to one native to the island that claims they still catch and export fish from the island. The shipment came from Indonesia itself, the fish could very well be from Java. This could also explain why the specimens here on MFK all appear very similar, with the ‘lopis’ traits…My specimen looks near identical to a supposed Java caught specimen kept at Dunia air Tawar. This specimen was unfortunately denied genetic testing, I’m unsure if it is being stored anywhere.
this is really just spitballing theories as this can all be solved when testing is done and fish is larger. There was also rumor of a 4th continental chitala in one of the last papers written about Lopis, it was unnamed but referred to being found on Malay peninsula.
Other things of note are that this paper has anecdotal evidence of C. lopis being caught for Java aquarium trade. Merely just rumored to still be exported by the fishermen. The paper is rather old though, doesn’t provide very much in that regard.
Here is said paper:Paper
supposedly research has to be authorized by the government in these areas, keep this in mind. This also relates back to my earlier statement from the museum curator that told me they were unable to genetically test their specimen they found. As far as I am aware, it is illegal to research without authorization/warrant. May make things difficult on the Asian front…
now for the anecdotal details: from discussing with a few people, including Jeff Rapps, it seems that Chitala lopis slipping through the cracks is more likely than another Indonesian chitala species being imported. I have concluded this as Borneo and Sumatra are heavily restricted as for tropical fish exports…Java on the other hand does not seem to share this strict manner. I have talked to one native to the island that claims they still catch and export fish from the island. The shipment came from Indonesia itself, the fish could very well be from Java. This could also explain why the specimens here on MFK all appear very similar, with the ‘lopis’ traits…My specimen looks near identical to a supposed Java caught specimen kept at Dunia air Tawar. This specimen was unfortunately denied genetic testing, I’m unsure if it is being stored anywhere.
this is really just spitballing theories as this can all be solved when testing is done and fish is larger. There was also rumor of a 4th continental chitala in one of the last papers written about Lopis, it was unnamed but referred to being found on Malay peninsula.
Other things of note are that this paper has anecdotal evidence of C. lopis being caught for Java aquarium trade. Merely just rumored to still be exported by the fishermen. The paper is rather old though, doesn’t provide very much in that regard.
Here is said paper:Paper
Dunia air tawar specimen, notice that color, you can see it in the YouTube links from earlier. I will get you all some more videos tonight
