Home / Fishes / Gouramis, bettas, snakeheads / Eastern Province rocky
No federal permit to keepEastern Province rocky
Sandelia bainsii
Fishes › Gouramis, bettas, snakeheads (Anabantiformes) › Anabantidae (Climbing perch and bush fish)
The Eastern Province rocky (Sandelia bainsii), also known as rocky kurper, is a species of fish in the family Anabantidae.
Care at a glance
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 48 in long and 21 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 10.2 in / 26 cm).
- Water: Freshwater.
- Temperature: 64–72°F (range recorded for this species).
- pH: 6.8–8.
- Hardness: 10–30 dGH.
- Layout: Uses both the bottom and open water: give open swimming space plus cover near the substrate.
- Diet: FishBase classes it as a carnivore.
Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.
Care guide
Species care notes
- Tank: a base of at least 71 × 24 in (roughly 171 US gallons); space needed is rated “very large tank”.
- Water: a fairly wide range, from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, 64–72 °F, pH 6.8–8, 10–30 dGH.
- Behaviour: temperament species tank; not a community fish.
- Difficulty: Difficult (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “It really should be kept in a setup dedicated to replicating its natural biotope.”
- Diet: “In nature it feeds on smaller fish, aquatic invertebrates and even crabs.”
- Tankmates: “Considering its conservation status, it's best kept alone to avoid any possibility of deaths due to disease transfer, aggression or other factors.”
- Breeding: “May be possible if the species ever becomes available.”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
Gouramis and labyrinth fish
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Warm, still, vegetated waters. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- Planted, calm tanks with floating plants; they breathe air at the surface, so leave a gap under the lid.
Diet
- Food acceptance is species-specific. Parosphromenus deissneri needs tiny live invertebrate foods and commonly refuses dried foods; a pellet/flake staple cannot cover every labyrinth fish.
Health watch
- Males are territorial; dwarf gourami iridovirus.
Understanding the animal
About this animal
About this animal
It is endemic to South Africa. The specific name of this species is thought to honour the Scottish geologist, explorer and soldier Andrew Geddes Bain (1797-1864) who also collected zoological specimens.
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Eastern Province rocky” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174
In the wild
In the wild
From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1
| Where it lives | Lives in freshwater, in rivers and streams. Uses both the bottom and open water. Found in rocky streams, favoring marginal habitats where the current is slow. Preys on insects, crabs and small fish. Is preyed upon by introduced predators such as bass and sharptooth catfish. Breeds in summer. Males guard the eggs and larvae which are found on the substrate. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater, 64–72 °F (18–22 °C), pH 6.8–8, hardness 10–30 dH. |
| Climate | Subtropical climate. |
| Behavior to plan for | Breeding: clutch tenders. |
What this means for care
- Keep water within its wild range, 64–72 °F.
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 80°F (up to 84°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 45°F (down to 38°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 59–65°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 61–72% on average (driest month about 53%) |
| Rainfall | about 663 mm a year, spread fairly evenly |
Measured at 19 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.
From the sources
From the sources
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Overview | The Eastern Province rocky (Sandelia bainsii), also known as rocky kurper, is a species of fish in the family Anabantidae. It is endemic to South Africa. The specific name of this species is thought to honour the Scottish geologist, explorer and soldier Andrew Geddes Bain (1797-1864) who also collected zoological specimens. Bain served as a captain in the Cape Frontier Wars and may have fought the tribal chief Sandile, for whom Castelnau named the genus. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Where it lives | Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase |
| Reproduction | Male prepares the spawning site and guards the eggs. Upon hatching, larvae adhered permanently to the substrate at the nesting site where they were guarded by the male. — FishBase |
| Appearance and size | Maximum length 26.0 cm sl male/unsexed; maximum published weight 130.00 g. — FishBase |
| Biology | Facultative air-breathing; Found in rocky streams, favoring marginal habitats where the current is slow. Preys on insects, crabs and small fish. Is preyed upon by introduced predators such as bass and sharptooth catfish. — FishBase |
Data and studies
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Typical adult weight
Average adult body mass in each database (FishBase gives the maximum recorded weight).
Adult length
Maximum recorded length. Measured as standard length (snout to the base of the tail, not counting the tail fin). Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.
Water temperature
Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.
Minimum tank footprint
Seriously Fish recommends a tank base of at least 71 × 24 in (about 171 US gallons).
Sources for this sheet
- FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
- Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of aquarium fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Types and features of aquatic systems Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Nutritional diseases of fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Seriously Fish — Parosphromenus deissneri Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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