Description
Crazy fish range in length from 69 to 155 mm (2.7 to 6.1 in) in length. The head is subcylindrical and flattened dorsoventrally, slightly concave in the area between the tip of the snout to just behind the eyes. The mouth is very large, with a lower jaw extending past the upper jaw. Both contain multiple rows of tiny bristle-like sharp teeth. A pair of nostrils are present on each side of the snout (four in all) midway between the tip of the snout and the eyes. The front pair of nostrils are far smaller in size than the posterior pair. The relatively small eyes (about a sixth of the length of the head in diameter) are situated near the top of the head but are oriented sidewise. They are gold and black in coloration. The body is strongly compressed laterally.
The dorsal fins are situated approximately in the middle of the body. The first dorsal fin (with five to six rays) is arched and originates from the highest point of the back of the fish. It has thinner rays than the second dorsal fin (with seven to eight rays). The short triangular ventral fins (each with five rays) are located considerably further forward than all the other fins. The anal fin (with seven to nine rays) is located approximately directly below the second dorsal fin, and are roughly the same size and shape as the latter. The pair of pectoral fins (each with eighteen to twenty rays) are large and rounded. They extend past the anus, sometimes reaching the anal fins. The broad and rounded caudal fin has about twenty closely compacted rays.
The entire body is covered in scales except the mouth, chin, and the tip of the snout. Small accessory scales of varying sizes are also present at the base of the larger scales on the head and body, numbering at one to six for each larger scale. The scales on the head, nape, and the sides of the body are ctenoid, while the scales on the belly are cycloid.
Crazy fish are drably colored, with the entire body predominantly mottled dusky gray to olive green. Five or six irregular dark transverse bands are present, obscured somewhat in the front but distinct in the rear half of the body. A black streak may extend from the snout, through the eye, and towards the gill covers. Dark spots radiate from around the eyes into the gill cover and snout. Each scale along the body has a pale spot that align with each other, creating noticeable longitudinal rows. One or two red or pinkish spots are also present at the base of the pectoral fins. The fins can be colorless or possess rows of alternating black and light bars. In some individuals, the fins may exhibit broad bright red margins. The pectoral fins are invariably colorless.
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