Locally it is called Jelawat pipi merah, when translated means Red Cheeked Sultan Fish, they are also called blood carp by aquarium hobbyists due to their vibrant red cheeks.

It is a high economic value fish for both commercial and collection purposes.

However, the species has never been successfully cultured and fishermen still rely on the wild population.

All fins being a dark red color, with a deeply forked red caudal fin with a red margin and a black sub-marginal stripe along each lobe, although some have been caught with caudal fins fully black.

[1] Occurs in rivers and streams of swamp forests, usually in backwaters.