Somik hara

Catfish hara, scientific name Hara hara, belongs to the Sisoridae family. It comes from Asia from the territory of the southern provinces of China, India, Nepal, Bangladesh. It is found everywhere, inhabiting numerous river systems. Prefers regions with weak currents or still water. Hiding at the bottom among branches and snags.

Description

Adult individuals reach a length of up to 13 cm. Catfish has a large stocky body covered with bone plates that close on the head, forming a kind of “helmet”. The integument of the body is rough to the touch, reminiscent of sandpaper. The fins are large and hard. The pectoral and dorsal fins are equipped with sharp spikes – modified first rays.

The coloration is gray-black or brownish depending on the environment. Where snags predominate, brown colors dominate in color, where there are sandy substrates, catfish have more gray shades.

It is a close relative of the more famous Asian stone catfish in aquariums.

Behavior and Compatibility

A peaceful, calm catfish that will modestly hide among shelters and not disturb the rest of the inhabitants of the aquarium. Can live alone or in a group. Most non-aggressive species of comparable size can be used as neighbors, for example, zebrafish, rasbor, tetras, almost all viviparous fish, etc.

Brief information:

• The volume of the aquarium – from 40 liters.
• Temperature – 12-28°C
• Value pH — 6.0–7.5
• Water hardness – up to 20 dGH
• Substrate type – sandy
• Lighting – subdued
• Brackish water – no
• Water movement – little or no
• The size of the fish is up to 13 cm.
• Food – any sinking food
• Temperament – peaceful
• Content – alone or in a group of relatives and together with other species

Maintenance and care, arrangement of the aquarium

The optimal size of the aquarium for one Somik Hara starts from 40 liters. In the design, it is necessary to provide for a soft sandy substrate and a lot of snags. The fish is nocturnal and hiding places are very important.

Able to live in a wide range of pH and GH values. Feels great even in cold water. Comfortable temperature conditions are between 12°C and 28°C, which makes it possible to keep catfish in an aquarium without a heater.

Maintenance is standard and consists of such obligatory procedures as weekly replacement of part of the water with fresh water, removal of organic waste and preventive maintenance of equipment.

Food

Being a nocturnal inhabitant, catfish should be fed in the evening before the lights are turned off. Serve sinking feed, e.g. in the form of flakes, granules. A good choice would be dry bloodworms as a valuable source of protein and essential amino acids.