Diagnostic Description
(
الإنجليزية
)
المقدمة من Fishbase
Mouth superior and transverse; 6 branched anal rays; barbels absent; distal margin of dorsal convex; large adults with sexually dimorphic coloration (Ref. 43281).
Life Cycle
(
الإنجليزية
)
المقدمة من Fishbase
Nests under stones and the male cleans the cavity with its pearl organs. Eggs adhere to the ceiling of the cavity. The male leaves the nest before the eggs hatch. Females spawn 3-4 times during a season (Ref. 59043).
Morphology
(
الإنجليزية
)
المقدمة من Fishbase
Dorsal spines (total): 3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 6
Trophic Strategy
(
الإنجليزية
)
المقدمة من Fishbase
Feeds on fish, fish eggs and small insects (Ref. 30578). Also Ref. 84946.
Biology
(
الإنجليزية
)
المقدمة من Fishbase
Found in a wide variety of habitats, most abundantly in well vegetated small channels, ponds and small lakes (Ref. 59043). Adults occur in cool running water. Feed on small insects, fish and fish eggs (Ref. 30578), and plant material (Ref. 59043). Usually breed in habitats with still or very slow-flowing water (Ref. 59043). Females spawn 3-4 times in a season (Ref. 59043). Males clear the surface of the spawning site and guard the eggs until they hatch (Ref. 59043). Regarded as pest which competes with the fry of other species due to its high reproductive rate (Ref. 1739).
Importance
(
الإنجليزية
)
المقدمة من Fishbase
fisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercial