Among the catfishes are several species that are able to take revenge for being caught by giving a poisonous sting. Although the venom has only mild effects on most people (burning, local swelling, pain) it might be even fatal for allergy sufferers. You should always keep in mind that our beloved honey bee is the animal that is responsible for most deaths caused by animals in humans!
And this is the real problem with venomous fishes: you cannot say what will happen before you become stung the first time. So it is better to be cautious with Akysis vespa.
The scientific name “vespa” already says a lot. It refers not only on the yellow-black coloration, but also on the very painful sting this species can inflict. The good news is: Akysis vespa is a perfect aquarium fish and can even become bred in the home aquarium. Sexes can be distinguished best by the shape of the body. Females are more plump. When in spawning condition you can see the greenish eggs through the belly of the female. The eggs have a diameter of around 1.5 mm.
Akysis vespa originates from Burma. It is known so far only from the upper reaches of the Ataran river in the northern part of Burma. The Ataran rises in Thailand and empties in the Andaman sea. Akysis inhabits clear, fast moving streamlets with pebbly ground. In the aquarium it is much more active when good current is provided.
Like in many other fishes the spawning season for A. vespa is induced by the rainy season. Similar as in breeding corys strong waterchanges (of about 80%) with cool and soft water should be made. The water temperature should be lowered by doing this from about 30°C to about 23°C. The males are strongly chasing the females. It has proofed to be useful to use a group of males for breeding. The successful male will wrap its body around the female during spawning. The eggs need about 4 days to hatch.
For our customers: the fish has code 362363 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale market.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
| Angaben zum Tier | |
|---|---|
| Herkunft | Burma |
| Verfügbare Größe in cm | 3-4 |
