Shadow ornate catfish, Pygmy Malaya glass catfish
Hyalobagrus flavus is a species from a Bagrid family catfish, the name hyalo translated from greek meaning glass and bagrus is the family where the fish belongs, the fish also known in aquaria trade as Shadow ornate catfish or Pygmy Malaya glass catfish.
Distribution: Sumatra and southern Borneo.
In the wild this catfish can be seen swimming in a group usually of 10-15 fish. Like most catfish they are bottom dwellers and searching food under the debris of woods, leafs and aquatic plants, they are peaceful fish in aquarium and appears to have less aggression towards each others.
When gravid the green eggs of females of Hyalobagrus flavus are clearly visible through the virtually transparent body. Males have a small genital papilla just in front of their anal fin and are generally less round in the belly than females.
Feeds mostly on small crustaceans, worms and zooplankton.
Soft acidic water is prefered although the species can also thrive at PH of 7, best kept in group of minimum 5-7 individuals. It’s is preferred to keep them in dense planted tank or a biotope tank with lots of leaf litters and shelters (wood, branches and aquatic plants) since they will prefer dimmer areas.
Hyalobagrus flavus can be fed with blood worm, daphnia or sinking foods.
There has been no record of the fish spawning behaviour, but it is believed to be egg scattering.
Small frozen and live foods: bloodworm, brineshrimp, daphnia and others.
