Taxonomy & naming
Described by Francis Day (crediting Tickell) in 1888 and later moved to Batasio, hence the parentheses. The type locality is Anin stream near Weywoon (Wewun), Wagroo, Tenasserim, Myanmar. It is a valid species in the Catalog of Fishes.
Morphology
A small bagrid with four pairs of barbels, a spine in the dorsal and pectoral fins, and a forked tail. FishBase gives a maximum of 5 in TL.
Habitat
FishBase gives a range from the northern Malay Peninsula (Perak and Terengganu drainages) north to the Tenasserim River drainage in southern Myanmar. It lives in rivers and streams with moderate to swift current and a mostly rocky bottom, less often in slow muddy streams, and hides among stones or plants by day.
Feeding
A small benthic and midwater feeder that comes out at night: insect larvae, small crustaceans and prepared foods.
Mating
Mating behaviour is not documented for Batasio fluviatilis in the sources available to the atlas. Sexes cannot be separated reliably from the information available.
Breeding
No spawning or breeding record is known to the atlas.
In the aquarium
Keep in a moderately flowing, well-filtered tank with shelter. The dorsal and pectoral spines can sting. It may eat very small fish, and it is not widely available.
Conservation
The IUCN Red List assessed Batasio fluviatilis as Least Concern in 2019.