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Name:
Scientific name: Geotria australis
Common name: Pouched lamprey
AKA: Wide-mouthed lamprey

Country of origin: Chile, Argentina, New Zealand, Australia – Including SA (lower Mt Lofty Ranges), WA (Margaret River - Denmark), Tas

pH:
Temperature: cm
Hardness:
Water flow: standard
Oxygenation: standard

Maximum size: 70 cm as adults. 3-8cm as juveniles.

Diet: Juveniles are filter-feeders, feeding on zooplankton & algae.

As an adult in the ocean they act as a parasite, on the sides of other fish.

Once they return to freshwater as adults they do not feed.

Breeding:
Males – have a baggy pouch under their eyes when mature.

They migrate to the sea for around 2 years, then back to freshwater to breed. They die after spawning.

They can use their mouths to grasp, then swing their bodies up, to overcome obstacles when traversing upstream, or move cross-country when required. They are generally nocturnal when migrating, hiding in caves, under driftwood or in vegetation during the day. Many die during migration.

Tank companions:
They are NOT good tankmates with shrimp.

Tank:
Not known to be kept in home aquaria.

Confused with: Other lampreys – 30 species in all, most of which spend at least some of their time in freshwater.

It is the only species in its genus.

They are silver/ cobalt blue with green stripes when in their 6 month adult phase as they migrate to the sea, but are brown when they have been in freshwater for awhile, and during their juvenile phase (up to 4 years). They have eel-like bodies, with jawless mouths, with concentric rings of rasping teeth. Their eyes are on the sides of their heads.

They are ancient fish, dating to 50 million years before the dinosaurs.

Geotria australis are NOT legal imports to Australia as of 21/10/2013:
http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiv...mport-list.pdf
however, as Australian natives, they can legally be purchased from Australian stock.

The IUCN Red List reports Geotria australis as a species which has not yet been assessed at 22/10/2013:
http://www.iucnredlist.org/search
However the South Australian Department for Environment & Heritage reports that these fish are threatened species.
The main threats appear to be blocks to their migration (dams, run-offs leading to dry areas & drains, etc) and introduced species such as trout & marron which predate on eggs & juveniles.

It is very important not to release any aquarium specimens into our waterways. Any that are not sold or re-homed/ given away, can often be re-sold to aquarium stores. If they are homed in ponds, care should be taken that they cannot escape in run-off into our waterways. Even if fish are native & local they should not be moved from one waterway to another, as this can transfer disease. If they are not local fish, they can both spread disease and either out-compete or eat local fish, shrimp & plants, causing their demise.

It is a good fish for beginners +1.

References:
WA government
http://www.water.wa.gov.au/Publicati...irst/11443.pdf

Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pouched_lamprey

SA government
http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/fil...rey.pdf‎

SANFA - native, introduced species & native translocated species
http://www.sanfa.org.au/fw-fish.htm

DE