Pseudomystus siamensis • Bagridae • Cat-eLog • PlanetCatfish

Dorsal view
Adult
Drawing
Dorsal view
Close-up showing sexual dimorphism (male below)
Pair - female above
Stamp
Stamp

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Pseudomystus siamensis** (Regan, 1913)
Common Name(s)	Asian Bumblebee Catfish, Siamese Catfish
Type Locality	Bangpakong River, Thailand
Synonym(s)	Leiocassis siamensis
Pronunciation	SUE doh MIST uss - sigh ah MEN siss
Etymology	From the Greek pseudos, meaning lie, and mystus, a genus of bagrid catfishes. In reference to the overall similarity of the two genera. Named after its then country of origin Siam (know today as Thailand).
Species Information
Size	150mm (5.9") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	Quite distinctive within its family, this species can be confused with the various South American bumblebee catfish from the family Pimelodidae. All Bagrids, the Asian bumblebee included, have a matched pair of nasal barbels which originate slightly forward of the eyes and tend to run almost vertically upwards. The caudal fin is clear to yellowish with variable blotches in the twin lobes.
Sexing	Females are more deeper bodied in comparison to the more slender males.
General Remarks	Intensity of colouration varies with size, age and possibly gender.
Habitat Information
Distribution	Asia: Chao Phraya and Mekong basins. Reported from Mekong, Peninsular and Southeast Thailand river systems. Thailand Waters, Chao Praya (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there) Mekong (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there) Thailand Waters, Peninsular Thailand Waters (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there)
pH	5.8 - 7.8
Temperature	20.0-26.0°C or 68-78.8°F (Show others within this range)
Other Parameters	Appears to prefer acidic, softer water but is truly hardy and adaptable in captivity.
Husbandry Information
Feeding	A carnivore; this species eats insects and small aquatic crustaceans in the wild but will adapt to most prepared foods easily. Feeding will initially be at night but this nocturnal species can be ''trained'' to eat during the day.
Furniture	An totally dark cave is required, sized to suit the fish. Long black PVC pipes are ideal, the fish also prefers wood to stone.
Compatibility	Territorially aggressive to its own kind or similar catfishes although more spacious tanks with plenty of hiding places can house a group of these fish. Tell tale croaking noises through the night belie nocturnal disputes and should prompt the separation of waring faction before too much damage is done. Larger individuals will eat small fish (usually at night).
Suggested Tankmates	Ideal fish for the active, large Cyprinid tank. Due to its nocturnal feeding habits it suits most American cichlid tanks too, but fry will be eaten.
Breeding	No details available on captive spawning. Reports indicate the fishes spawn during the rainy season in the wild, the young being found in fishermens nets around August.
Further Information
Registered Keepers	(1) Trident2004, (2) vriesea, who also notes: "Bought two at San Fancisco Aquarium Society. One died, other has doubled in sized in 3 months. Sold. Very fast grower. My siamensis grow from 1 1/2" to 5" in 6 months. Night feeder that preys on small fish.", (3) Oliver D. (k: 2), (4) Silurus, (5) Occellatus, who also notes: "A very beautiful species, it always hides behind my internal pump during the day. It prefers to park itself in a vertical position most of the time and is only active at night searching for food.", (6) clunkster, (7) vernonlarge, (8) Redcatman, (9) Marsdinho, (10) ElectricYellowPlecostomus, (11) Igowoof, (12) Högö, (13) ranmasan, who also notes: "shy, even in low light, during the day :)", (14) Nikita (k: 2), who also notes: "Both fish are over 9" long TL and have finished growing. Kept in a 72 x 24 x 24 tank with black sand substrate and mopani and bogwood decor, housed with other large cats and large barbs. Named Bamf and NC.", (15) Snowy (k: 3), (16) jb92 (k: 2), (17) Plunt, (18) Dinyar, (19) mini-fée (p: 2), (20) mante-religieuse, who also notes: "Since I got it,I 've never seing it.ALWAYS hidden.Very small,only 5 cm. On 23-5-2008,I saw it take a shrimp pellet and brougt it back to its cave!!Now(on 1st on June )I start to see it once in a while steal food to the Ancistrus!It's a little fast! ", (21) elbowjuice, (22) iam1ru12, (23) zedogz, (24) Shovelnose (k: 2), (25) smegforbrains, (26) bahid, (27) andycapdnz (k: 2), who also notes: "Im sure this is the right fish, if not this one, its very similar.", (28) Reginator (k: 2), (29) tasoulis (k: 2), (30) turkey151 (p: 3), (31) saphphx, (32) judeblackburn, (33) jessey (p: 2), (34) Back, (35) mamoo, (36) headbanger_jib, (37) TheFishGuy, (38) NC24, (39) shivamotiram, (40) chimp, (41) mike h, (42) ad8, (43) Quo, (44) browny85, (45) nurglespuss, (46) Shawnc, (47) h4dow (p: 2), (48) anthonyking, (49) Hoyo12. 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	- CotM 2002 April - Search Planet Catfish for more on Pseudomystus siamensis - BBcode (for use in linking to this page from forum posts) - Look up Pseudomystus siamensis on AquaticRepublic.com - Look up Pseudomystus siamensis on Fishbase, I.T.I.S. or ispecies search. - URL (for use in linking to the species from anywhere on the web)
Hits	41079 hits.
Last Update	2005 Feb 22 00:00 (species record created: 2001 Oct 27 00:00)

Cat-eLog Data Sheet

Scientific Name

Pseudomystus siamensis (Regan, 1913)

Common Name(s)

Asian Bumblebee Catfish, Siamese Catfish

Type Locality

Bangpakong River, Thailand

Synonym(s)

Leiocassis siamensis

Pronunciation

SUE doh MIST uss - sigh ah MEN siss

Etymology

From the Greek pseudos, meaning lie, and mystus, a genus of bagrid catfishes. In reference to the overall similarity of the two genera. Named after its then country of origin Siam (know today as Thailand).

Species Information

Size

150mm (5.9") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.

Identification

Quite distinctive within its family, this species can be confused with the various South American bumblebee catfish from the family Pimelodidae. All Bagrids, the Asian bumblebee included, have a matched pair of nasal barbels which originate slightly forward of the eyes and tend to run almost vertically upwards. The caudal fin is clear to yellowish with variable blotches in the twin lobes.

Sexing

Females are more deeper bodied in comparison to the more slender males.

General Remarks

Intensity of colouration varies with size, age and possibly gender.

Habitat Information

Distribution

Asia: Chao Phraya and Mekong basins. Reported from Mekong, Peninsular and Southeast Thailand river systems.
Thailand Waters, Chao Praya (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there)
Mekong Show it on a map

(hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there)
Thailand Waters, Peninsular Thailand Waters (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there)

5.8 - 7.8

Temperature

20.0-26.0°C or 68-78.8°F (Show others within this range)

Other Parameters

Appears to prefer acidic, softer water but is truly hardy and adaptable in captivity.

Husbandry Information

Feeding

A carnivore; this species eats insects and small aquatic crustaceans in the wild but will adapt to most prepared foods easily. Feeding will initially be at night but this nocturnal species can be ''trained'' to eat during the day.

Furniture

An totally dark cave is required, sized to suit the fish. Long black PVC pipes are ideal, the fish also prefers wood to stone.

Compatibility

Territorially aggressive to its own kind or similar catfishes although more spacious tanks with plenty of hiding places can house a group of these fish. Tell tale croaking noises through the night belie nocturnal disputes and should prompt the separation of waring faction before too much damage is done. Larger individuals will eat small fish (usually at night).

Suggested Tankmates

Ideal fish for the active, large Cyprinid tank. Due to its nocturnal feeding habits it suits most American cichlid tanks too, but fry will be eaten.

Breeding

No details available on captive spawning. Reports indicate the fishes spawn during the rainy season in the wild, the young being found in fishermens nets around August.

Further Information

Registered Keepers

(1) Trident2004, (2) vriesea, who also notes: "Bought two at San Fancisco Aquarium Society. One died, other has doubled in sized in 3 months. Sold. Very fast grower. My siamensis grow from 1 1/2" to 5" in 6 months. Night feeder that preys on small fish.", (3) Oliver D. (k: 2), (4) Silurus, (5) Occellatus, who also notes: "A very beautiful species, it always hides behind my internal pump during the day. It prefers to park itself in a vertical position most of the time and is only active at night searching for food.", (6) clunkster, (7) vernonlarge, (8) Redcatman, (9) Marsdinho, (10) ElectricYellowPlecostomus, (11) Igowoof, (12) Högö, (13) ranmasan, who also notes: "shy, even in low light, during the day :)", (14) Nikita (k: 2), who also notes: "Both fish are over 9" long TL and have finished growing. Kept in a 72 x 24 x 24 tank with black sand substrate and mopani and bogwood decor, housed with other large cats and large barbs. Named Bamf and NC.", (15) Snowy (k: 3), (16) jb92 (k: 2), (17) Plunt, (18) Dinyar, (19) mini-fée (p: 2), (20) mante-religieuse, who also notes: "Since I got it,I 've never seing it.ALWAYS hidden.Very small,only 5 cm. On 23-5-2008,I saw it take a shrimp pellet and brougt it back to its cave!!Now(on 1st on June )I start to see it once in a while steal food to the Ancistrus!It's a little fast! ", (21) elbowjuice, (22) iam1ru12, (23) zedogz, (24) Shovelnose (k: 2), (25) smegforbrains, (26) bahid, (27) andycapdnz (k: 2), who also notes: "Im sure this is the right fish, if not this one, its very similar.", (28) Reginator (k: 2), (29) tasoulis (k: 2), (30) turkey151 (p: 3), (31) saphphx, (32) judeblackburn, (33) jessey (p: 2), (34) Back, (35) mamoo, (36) headbanger_jib, (37) TheFishGuy, (38) NC24, (39) shivamotiram, (40) chimp, (41) mike h, (42) ad8, (43) Quo, (44) browny85, (45) nurglespuss, (46) Shawnc, (47) h4dow (p: 2), (48) anthonyking, (49) Hoyo12.

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 species list

Add this species to your "my cats" page.

Breeding Reports

None.

More Resources

- CotM

2002

April

- Search Planet Catfish for more on Pseudomystus siamensis
Link

- BBcode (for use in linking to this page from forum posts)
Look up AquaticRepublic.com

- Look up Pseudomystus siamensis on AquaticRepublic.com
Look up Fishbase

- Look up Pseudomystus siamensis on Fishbase, I.T.I.S. or ispecies search.
Link

- URL (for use in linking to the species from anywhere on the web)

Hits

41079 hits.

Last Update

2005 Feb 22 00:00 (species record created: 2001 Oct 27 00:00)

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