Mystus leucophasis • Bagridae • Cat-eLog

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Mystus leucophasis** (Blyth, 1860)
Common Name(s)	Asian Upside Down Catfish, Asian Upside-down Catfish
Type Locality	Sitang and other Myanmar [Burma] rivers.
Synonym(s)	Bagrus leucophasis, Macrones leucophasis
Pronunciation	miss tuss - loo koe fas iss
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.
Species Information
Size	300mm (11.8") 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. A truly inverting catfish. All black with a handful of diamond flecks along the flanks of sub-adult or older fish.
Sexing	Males possess an elongate genital papilla which is located just fore of the anal fin and is quite predominant. Males also are thinner in the body and shorter in length at adult size (this is true of most Bagrids). Females are longer and heavier bodied.
Habitat Information
Distribution	Burma; Sittang and other rivers Myanmar Waters (click on these areas to find other species found there) Myanmar Waters, Sittang (click on these areas to find other species found there) (Click the map-icon to show/hide map of species distribution)
pH	6.0 - 8.0
Temperature	23.0-27.0°C or 73.4-80.6°F (Show others within this range)
Other Parameters	Water parameters are generally unimportant for the species. Ideally the water would be neutral and soft. A good current is recommendable.
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Not a fussy feeder - all prepared foods are taken.
Furniture	PVC pipe sections, one per fish, are required. These are preferred over, for example, flower pots and the like.
Compatibility	Not to be kept with small fish (i.e. anything less than three fourths the size of the catfish) will be quickly eaten.
Suggested Tankmates	Boisterous cichlids (even Mbuna) and larger Loricariids are the best choice although some of the larger Cyprinids (Tinfoil barbs for example) are also possible. Avoid slow moving fish.
Breeding	Unreported in the home aquarium, although (as the images above show) is mass breed by commercial breeders.
Further Information
References	J. Asiatic Soc. Bengalv. 29 (no. 2) - pp148
Registered Keepers	(1) Dave Rinaldo, (2) Trident2004, (3) Silurus, (4) Sandtiger, (5) Igowoof, (6) michael56, (7) GoGoCactus, (8) RobDoran1, (9) The-Wolf, (10) haxjester, (11) ianimal, (12) jippo, (13) luv4jjt, (14) joe.juice13, (15) GixxerBabe, (16) tjcher, (17) Shovelnose (k: 2), (18) le_fish, (19) ryguy713 (p: 3), (20) Moomoo, (21) Tracey, (22) LLLL (k: 2), (23) andy.cole94 (k: 2), (24) tezr, (25) Altifrons, (26) HaKkEr, (27) b.price, (28) PangasiusSutchi37, (29) 0210Miyo, (30) Redtailrob (k: 2), (31) FNW, (32) Bimmerboy12 (k: 2), (33) headbanger_jib, (34) rhibear (k: 2), (35) JamieH, (36) snakelover (p: 2), (37) Buddiechrist, (38) Birger, (39) dylanshariatpanahy (p: 4), (40) tropical, (41) Marisco1729, (42) minipol, (43) Mcjlance, (44) flipperfeet, (45) Blaki1, (46) Hedorah, (47) Iiriva (k: 2), (48) doddreece@gmail.com. Click on a username above to see all that persons registered catfish species. You can also view all "my cats" data for this species.
Breeding Reports	None.
Articles	- CotM 2000 March
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Hits	43387 hits.
Last Update	2008 Jul 31 11:48 (species record created: 2001 Apr 21 00:00)

Cat-eLog Data Sheet

Scientific Name

Mystus leucophasis (Blyth, 1860)

Common Name(s)

Asian Upside Down Catfish, Asian Upside-down Catfish

Type Locality

Sitang and other Myanmar [Burma] rivers.

Synonym(s)

Bagrus leucophasis, Macrones leucophasis

Pronunciation

miss tuss - loo koe fas iss

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.

Species Information

Size

300mm (11.8") 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.

A truly inverting catfish. All black with a handful of diamond flecks along the flanks of sub-adult or older fish.

Sexing

Males possess an elongate genital papilla which is located just fore of the anal fin and is quite predominant. Males also are thinner in the body and shorter in length at adult size (this is true of most Bagrids). Females are longer and heavier bodied.

Habitat Information

Distribution

Burma; Sittang and other rivers
Myanmar Waters (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Myanmar Waters, Sittang (click on these areas to find other species found there)

(Click the map-icon to show/hide map of species distribution)

6.0 - 8.0

Temperature

23.0-27.0°C or 73.4-80.6°F (Show others within this range)

Other Parameters

Water parameters are generally unimportant for the species. Ideally the water would be neutral and soft. A good current is recommendable.

Husbandry Information

Feeding

Not a fussy feeder - all prepared foods are taken.

Furniture

PVC pipe sections, one per fish, are required. These are preferred over, for example, flower pots and the like.

Compatibility

Not to be kept with small fish (i.e. anything less than three fourths the size of the catfish) will be quickly eaten.

Suggested Tankmates

Boisterous cichlids (even Mbuna) and larger Loricariids are the best choice although some of the larger Cyprinids (Tinfoil barbs for example) are also possible. Avoid slow moving fish.

Breeding

Unreported in the home aquarium, although (as the images above show) is mass breed by commercial breeders.

Further Information

References

J. Asiatic Soc. Bengalv. 29 (no. 2) - pp148

Registered Keepers