Asian Stone Catfish:

An Aquarium Guide

Asian Stone Catfish (Eresthistes jerdoni) is a fascinating and unique freshwater fish, prized for its unusual appearance and peaceful nature. Often referred to as the Mottled Humpback or Two-spot Catfish, this species is native to the slow-moving rivers and streams of India and Bangladesh. Its cryptic, spiny appearance and mottled colouration allow it to blend seamlessly with the rocky, silty riverbeds of its natural habitat.

Key Characteristics

• Size: This is a very small species, typically reaching a maximum length of 4-5 cm (1.6-2 inches).
• Appearance: The most distinctive feature is its flattened, almost skeletal-looking body with pronounced spines on its head and fins. Its colouration is a mix of browns, greys, and blacks, giving it a stony, camouflaged look.
• Temperament: They are exceptionally peaceful and shy, making them an excellent choice for a quiet community tank. They are primarily nocturnal and will spend much of the day hidden away.

Tank Requirements

Providing the right environment is critical for the health and comfort of Asian Stone Catfish. Replicating their natural, calm habitat is key.

• Tank Size: A minimum tank size of 40 litres (10 gallons) is recommended for a small group. A larger tank is always better to provide ample space for them to explore and hide.
• Water Parameters: They require very clean, well-oxygenated water with a gentle flow.
  • Temperature: $20-25°C$ ($68-77°F$)
  • pH: $6.0-7.5$
  • Hardness: $2-15$ dGH
• Tank Setup: The substrate should be soft sand or very fine gravel to protect their delicate barbels. Provide plenty of natural hiding places using smooth rocks, driftwood, and leaf litter (like Indian Almond leaves), which will also help create a natural environment and slightly lower the pH. A gentle filter or a sponge filter is ideal, as they do not cope well with strong currents.

Diet

Asian Stone Catfish are micro-predators, feeding on small worms, insect larvae, and micro-crustaceans in the wild.

• Primary Diet: They must be fed with small, sinking foods that can reach them on the bottom. Live or frozen foods like bloodworms, tubifex, daphnia, and grindal worms are highly recommended.
• Supplemental Foods: They can sometimes be trained to accept high-quality sinking pellets or wafers, but these should not form the bulk of their diet.

Behaviour and Tank Mates

These are social fish and must be kept in groups to feel secure and thrive.

• Social Structure: Keep them in groups of at least 6-8 individuals. This will encourage natural social behaviours and bring them out of hiding more often. They are not known to be aggressive towards one another.
• Suitable Tank Mates: Due to their small size and shy nature, they should only be kept with other very peaceful, small fish. Suitable tank mates include:
  • Rasboras
  • Small schooling Tetras
  • Corydoras Catfish
  • Dwarf shrimp species

Breeding

Breeding Asian Stone Catfish in an aquarium is extremely rare and has not been widely documented. It is likely that they require very specific triggers, such as a large cool water change simulating the rainy season, to initiate spawning.

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