Borneo - Sungai Sabangau

For those out there encountering catfishes in the wild, post your experiences here.
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panaque
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Borneo - Sungai Sabangau

Post by panaque »

Last January I traveled to Indonesian Borneo for work and spent a few days at a primate research station in peat swamp forest on the edge of the Sabangau river. I spent most of my time wading knee-deep in black water trying to keep up with the apes traveling through the canopy above but I did manage a couple of hours of dipping an over-sized aquarium net in the water around the camp.
This is the camp:
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The water here is very acidic. pH between 3 and 4 typically.
Wherever there was a bit of current there were these stunning halfbeaks, probably Hemirhamphodon tengah:
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This one is probably juvenile of the above but fins look quite different
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Rasbora:
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I did find a name for this small (2cm) and very pretty barb (photo doesn't do it justice) but I can't recall what it was now...
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I was hoping to find some catfish among the thick layer of leaf litter on the bottom but all I found there was this loach
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And finally some of the finless critters I encountered:
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Thanks for watching. Next January I shall be heading for the hills of North Kalimantan, which will be very different.
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Re: Borneo - Sungai Sabangau

Post by NCE12940 »

Fascinating trip, and great photos!
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Re: Borneo - Sungai Sabangau

Post by Silurus »

panaque wrote: Rasbora:
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That's Trigonopoma gracile.
panaque wrote: I did find a name for this small (2cm) and very pretty barb (photo doesn't do it justice) but I can't recall what it was now...
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R. kalochroma
panaque wrote: I was hoping to find some catfish among the thick layer of leaf litter on the bottom but all I found there was this loach
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That's Kottelatlimia hipporhynchos.
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panaque
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Borneo - Sungai Sabangau

Post by panaque »

Thanks for putting names to all those Silurius, that is great.
I also saw a Channa and a Betta, probably B. hendra.
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Re: Borneo - Sungai Sabangau

Post by racoll »

Cool trip!
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Re: Borneo - Sungai Sabangau

Post by mikeyrose »

Awesome fishy and other finds! Carnivorous plants are another "odd interest" of mine. :3
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Borneo - Sungai Sabangau

Post by panaque »

Thanks. It's a wonderful place and I count myself very lucky that I get to visit places like this. Unfortunately, this area is very much under threat from drainage of the swamp through old logging canals.
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