Origin
Found in coastal India and Sri Lanka, especially around the brackish estuaries of the Ceylon region. Commonly inhabits tidal rivers and mangrove-lined shores.

Visual & Functional Appeal
Covered in a striking green-and-black pattern with a white belly and golden eyes. Its stout, rounded form and curious movement make it the centerpiece of any brackish aquarium.

Purpose
Functions as a high-personality “wet pet.” Due to its intelligence and dietary needs, it encourages a hands-on approach to fishkeeping with enrichment through live hunting behaviors.

Importance
An ideal entry point into brackish species keeping—if properly understood. Offers a rewarding but demanding experience for aquarists ready to move beyond community freshwater tanks.

Included Resources
Requires brackish water (SG 1.005–1.015) and will not thrive long-term in freshwater. A strong filter, sand substrate, hardscape cover, and a supply of hard-shelled foods are essential.

Best Use Cases
Solo species tank with visual complexity. Best kept in brackish aquascapes or estuarine-style systems. Can be transitioned to full marine later in life in some cases.

Conservation Context
Wild collection is common, but captive survival rates drop without salinity awareness. Promoting correct care reduces turnover and pressure on wild stocks in India and Sri Lanka.

Ideal Aquatic Animals
• Best kept solo
• Robust brackish species (monos, scats) only in very large tanks
• Invertebrates like snails or shrimp are viewed as prey

Region (A)
• Latitude: 7.8731° N
• Longitude: 80.7718° E
(Sri Lanka — coastal and inland estuaries)

Region (B)
• Latitude: 15.3173° N
• Longitude: 75.7139° E
(Karnataka coast, India — tidal rivers and mangrove fringes)