This beautiful sucking barb was scientifically described in 2023 in honor of the meritorious naturalist Nonn Panitvong. Nonn found the animals together with other members of siamensis.org in 2006, so the location (the Kasat River in western Thailand) is well documented. For the history of the discovery of this species, please see https://www.aqualog.de/blog/garra-sp-rotschwanz-godzilla-kommt-vom-kasat-river/
The article also documents the impressive fighting behavior of this species, in which the males open their frontal processes (scientifically: proboscis) like horns and then wrestle with each other like bulls.
The closest related species in Thailand is certainly Garra fuliginosa Fowler, 1934, from which Garra panitvongi is, however, clearly different in color.
Of course, this Garra species is also a good algae eater, but it is more likely to be kept for its own sake and to promote algae growth for the benefit of the fish than to degrade it to a stone cleaner.
For our customers: the animals have code 416481 (3-4 cm) to 416484 (7-9 cm) on our stock list. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
