H-minuscula-hd
Erethistes minuscula Ng & Kottelat 2007
H_maesotensis

There has been some confusion on the identity of this diminutive mothcat over the years. At one time it was thought that it was a small Erethistini that was first described by Professor Kottelat in 1983 as Erethistes maesotensis. However, E maesotensis proved to be a Hara type not an Erethistes type, due to it having the serrae on the anterior edge of the pectoral spine antrosely directed and not divergent. It has since been diagnosed that E maesotensis is Erethistes (Hara) filamentosa (Ng & Kottelat, 2007).
Yet the Erethistini pictured above were the type that was being seen in our local fish stores under a variety of trade names such as burmese mini mouth cats and burmese rock cats. It was assumed that these were Erethistes maesotensis and therefore Hara maesotensis and again as later Hara filamentosa. However these small Erethistini have proved to be Hara minuscula (Ng & Kottelat, 2007) [and therefore Erethistes minuscula (Thompson & Page, 2006)] and the differences between these two; when Erethistes filamentosa and Erethistes minuscula are juveniles of comparable size, is subtle and misidentification therefore can be forgiven.
In profile Erethistes minuscula has a curvature to its head whereas in Erethistes filamentosa the profile is more angular.

Overall colouration can vary between an ashen grey to a ruddy brown. But generally the body colouration is ruddy brown, containing blotch like areas of a lighter brown, having two-chevron type bands of the lighter brown colour running just in front and to the rear of the adipose fin. The female is larger, both in length and width than the male, with the females also have a deeper pectoral fin. In adult females there is a 1 - 2 mm filamentous extension to the top ray of the caudal fin.

A sand substrate containing a few small rounded pebbles, and having a few plants, would make an ideal biotype for them to live in. Small danio’s, rasbora’s and small anabantoids like Trichopsis pumila and Betta simplex, make excellent tank mates.
Good water quality is essential in keeping these catfish for any length of time or attempting to breed them, as they tend not to tolerate too well nitrate levels above 12.5mg/l. Ideally a pH range from 6.7 to 7.2 and a GH of 6° should be provided. Temperature is not critical as long as there is a high level of dissolved oxygen present at the higher temperatures, however; they seem more at home in temperatures between 22°C and 24°C.

A diet of varied live foods such as small bloodworms, grindal worms, sifted daphnia, cyclops and newly hatched brine shrimp, should be provided as they tend not to feed on prepared food, Although they will feed on frozen bloodworms

Has been bred by the author.

Synonyms

Hara minuscula
Erethistes maesotensis (mis-identification)