| More Native Fishes of Singapore |
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| Any casual observer that looks into our more pristine forest streams will see large schools of small fishes swimming around. Rasboras form the bulk of these small fish schools and in Singapore, up to 5 native species of Rasboras still survive in the streams of our Central Catchment Forest, as well as some in Pulau Tekong. In descending order of sizes, they are Elegant (Two-Spot) Rasbora (Rasbora elegans), Einthoven's Rasbora (Rasbora einthovenii), Banka Rasbora (Rasbora bankanensis), Harlequin Rasbora (Rasbora heteromorpha) and the dimunitive Pygmy Rasbora (Boraras maculata). The last two are some of the more popular fish in the aquarium trade nowadays and large numbers are imported into Singapore of populations caught in Malaysian streams. Cyprinidae, the largest family of freshwater fish members in Singapore encompasses the Rasboras, genus Rasbora and Boraras, the larger Barbs, genus Puntius, Cyclocheilichthys and the now extinct Barbodes and, Hampala and Labiobarbus. These are easily the most noticeable and numerous native fishes found in the forest streams of Singapore. |
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| The commonest large native barb in Singapore, is the Bank's Barb (Puntius banksii). The other large barb regularly seen is the distinctively marked Spanner Barb. Barbs are aptly named after their whisker-like barbels, which are organs that help them detect food in the bottom substrate. |
| Six-Banded Tiger-Barbs (Puntius johorensis) belongs to a group of subtly similar barbs that have dark bands across their bodies. Some of these confusing group has 4 bands, 5 bands or 6 bands and one even has rhombus shaped bands. Only one species, though is indigenous to Singapore, which is this one and is highly endangered after being depleted by the Aquarium trade. |
| Elegant Rasbora (Rasbora elegans) at 130 mm is easily a giant, when compared to most other rasboras which are mostly last than 70 mm in length. This is also the commonest and most widespread species of Rasbora in Singpaore streams. Individual shown here is almost life-size. |
| I purchased 3 individuals of this strongly marked coolie loach from a local Aquaria in 2001. It was originally mixed among a large stock of the commoner Banded Coolie Loach.Shelford's Coolie Loach also known as the Spotted Coolie Loach (Pangio shelfordi), like its banded relative is also a bottom dwelling fish, seeking potential food with its short barbels. |
| Catfishes are another family of fish well represented in Singapore by many members, unfortunately, at present, I have no photographs of this interesting family of fish. Recommended Reading 1. Brittan M.R. (1990). Rasboras, Keeping and Breeding them in Captivity. T.F.H Publications. 2. Linke H. (1991). Labyrinth Fish. The Bubble-Nest-Builders. Tetra Press. 3. Kelvin K.P.Lim, Peter K.L.Ng (1990). A Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Singapore. Singapore Science Centre 4. Kottelat M. et al (1993). Freshwater Fishes of Western Indonesia and Sulawesi. Periplus editions. |
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| (Above) Harlequin Rasbora |
| (Above) Einthoven's Rasbora |