Stone sculpin (Paracottus knerii)

Scientific name: Paracottus knerii Dybowski, 1874

The Stone sculpin (Paracottus knerii) is a freshwater fish of the family Comephoridae. In the aquarium it needs water at 4–20°C (39–68°F). Native range: Europe, Lake Baikal and its tributaries, Gramninskie lakes, the Enisei River and Lake Verkhnyanya Agata in its basin, and lakes in Tuva.

Stone sculpin care at a glance

Temperature: 4–20°C (39–68°F)

Biology

Found mainly in the littoral zone, occurring exclusively over stone or sand. Spawns near shore at depths not exceeding 1.5 m, from the end of May to mid July. About 600 eggs are deposited under stones during spawning. Spent females move away to deeper waters; males guard the eggs until the fry stage.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Paracottus knerii
Family: Comephoridae (Baikal oilfishes)
Order: Scorpaeniformes (Scorpionfishes and Flatheads)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 14.4
Common length: 8.0
Depth range: 100 m (328 ft)
Environment: Freshwater; benthopelagic; depth range ? - 100 m
Climate: Boreal
Distribution: Europe: Lake Baikal and its tributaries, Gramninskie lakes, the Enisei River and Lake Verkhnyanya Agata in its basin, and lakes in Tuva.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Fec=600; K=0.16; tm=3)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Last updated 27 September 2026