Indian Featherback

Notopterus notopterus, the Ghosh's or Indian Featherback, is the smaller and more aquarium-practical of the two Notopterus species found in South Asia. It reaches around 35 cm and is found in a variety of lentic and lotic habitats across the Indian subcontinent, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh — rivers, lakes, floodplains, and rice paddies. The body is strongly humped at the shoulder, tapering to a long keel-like posterior, and locomotion is entirely provided by an undulating anal fin that runs the length of the belly.

In the aquarium it is a nocturnal ambush predator that spends daylight hours hiding in caves, under driftwood, or among dense vegetation. It is peaceful toward fish too large to swallow but will consume smaller tankmates. The tank must have a secure lid as this species is capable of escaping through very small gaps. Feeding is straightforward as it accepts most meaty foods.

Breeding in home aquariums is rare. In the wild it spawns on submerged objects such as rocks and logs, with the male guarding the egg cluster. The species is an obligate air-breather and must have access to humid air above the water surface.

Water: 22–28 °C, pH 6.0–7.5, soft to moderately hard; stable and well-filtered. Tank: 400 L minimum; caves and driftwood for daytime hiding; secure lid. Feeding: Carnivore; prawns, fish fillet, earthworms, nightcrawlers; feeds mainly at night. Breeding: Substrate-spawner with paternal guarding; rare in captivity. Compatibility: With large, robust fish only; will consume anything small enough to swallow.