Mystus mysticetus • Bagridae • Cat-eLog • PlanetCatfish

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Mystus mysticetus** Roberts, 1992
Common Name(s)	None
Type Locality	Nakorn Phanom market, Thailand.
Pronunciation	miss tuss - Mis tee see tuss
Etymology	The generic name is probably derived from the Latin mystax, meaning moustache, in reference to the long barbels. It was first used by Scopoli in 1777 making it a very old genus that has included many catfishes from throughout the world at one time or another. The specific epithet is the Greek generic name of the baleen whales and alludes to the numerous slende, baleen-like gill rakers of this species.
Species Information
Size	130mm (5.1") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	Fishes of the genus Mystus Scopoli are small to medium-sized bagrid catfishes occurring in South Asia. Roberts (1994) recognized Mystus to have an elongate cranial fontanel reaching up to the base of the occipital process, long maxillary barbel, very long adipose fin, 11–30 gill rakers on the first gill arch and 37–46 total vertebrae, about equally divided between abdominal and caudal regions. He included only eight species under the genus. Mo (1991) characterized the genus to have a thin needle-like first infraorbital, twisted and thickened metapterygoid loosely attached to the quadrate by means of ligament or a small extent of cartilage. Jayaram & Sanyal (2003) and Ferraris (2007) respectively listed 44 and 33 species of Mystus as valid. Differs from all other species of Mystus in having eyes lateral, rather than dorsolateral, so that they are about equally visible viewed either from above or from below head (in other species eyes usually cannot be seen at all from directly below). Mouth nearly terminal, less downturned than in any other species of striped Mystus. Serrae of pectoral spine smaller and less erect than in any other striped Mystus. Adipose fin short but very high, originating far behind dorsal fin, its length about twice and its height slightly less than eye diameter. Gill rakers increase in number throughout life faster than in any other Mystus. The anal fin has slightly more rays (13-15) than other striped Mystus of Thailand (usually 12 or less), and its posterior border is distinctly falcate. Cranial fontanel extends posteriorly to about midway between level of posterior border of eye and base of supraoccipital process. Maxillary barbel extends posteriorly to beyond anal fin or to end of middle caudal fin rays. Side of body with 3 faint dark and 2 whitish stripes.
Sexing	Males have an elongate genital papilla in front of the anal fin.
General Remarks	Often found in mixed schools with M. multiradiatus which congregate around tree limbs and other solid objects, browsing the hard surfaces for zooplankton, aquatic insects, crustaceans and rotifers. Moves into flooded forests during the rainy season and returns to rivers in November and December in the lower Mekong.
Habitat Information
Distribution	Mainland Southeast Asia. Mekong (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there) Thailand Waters, Chao Praya (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there)
pH	6.0 - 7.0
Temperature	22.0-27.0°C or 71.6-80.6°F (Show others within this range)
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Easily adapts to a wide variety of frozen and prepared food in the aquarium. May eat very small fish.
Furniture	Provide plenty of driftwood and vegetation as hiding spaces.
Compatibility	Compatible with most fishes, although very small fishes will be eaten. Ideal tankmates include larger barbs and rasboras in an Asian biotope setup. This species is not overtly territorial, so more than one can be kept together.
Breeding	Not reported.
Further Information
References	Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwatersv. 3 (no. 1) - pp84 - Fig. 3c Rainboth, WJ. 1996. Fishes of the Cambodian Mekong. FAO Species Identification Field Guide for Fishery Purposes. FAO, Rome, 265 pp.
Registered Keepers	(1) Oliver D. (k: 6), (2) GreenSynoMan, (3) Dinyar, (4) kickstand (p: 2), (5) Joanne (k: 2), (6) MatsP (p: 2, k: 8), who also notes: "Bought the last few in the shop...", (7) Bijn (k: 6), (8) WhiteLomu (k: 3), (9) Viktor Jarikov, who also notes: "not sure which exactly one, m.b. tengura or vittatus; was labeled 4-line bagrid cat at LFS". Click on a username above to see all that persons registered catfish species. You can also view all "my cats" data for this species. Add this species to your "my cats" page.
Breeding Reports	None.
More Resources	- Search Planet Catfish for more on Mystus mysticetus - BBcode (for use in linking to this page from forum posts) - Look up Mystus mysticetus on AquaticRepublic.com - Look up Mystus mysticetus on Fishbase, I.T.I.S. or ispecies search. - URL (for use in linking to the species from anywhere on the web)
Hits	5846 hits.
Last Update	2005 Oct 07 00:00 (species record created: 2001 May 03 00:00)

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