Mystus bimaculatus • Bagridae • Cat-eLog

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Mystus bimaculatus** (Volz, 1904)
Common Name(s)	Two Spot Catfish
Type Locality	Sumatra
Synonym(s)	Macrones bimaculatus
Pronunciation	miss tuss - by mack ewe LATT uss
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. bi = two, maculatus = spotted in reference to the dark shoulder spot and the dark marking on the caudal peduncle.
Species Information
Size	80mm (3.1") 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. Easily identified by its overall red-brown body and two dark markings on the shoulder and caudal peduncle. These markings are surrounded by lighter colouration.
Sexing	Males possess a genital papilla just for of the anal fin. The genital papilla look like an extra unattached fin ray. Amongst groups of healthy mature specimens the females are more robust, especially when gravid.
Habitat Information
Distribution	Known only from peat swamps in Sumatra. The natural habitat of this fish is facing serious pressures from man. Pacific, Greater Sunda Island Rivers, Sumatra Waters (click on these areas to find other species found there) (Click the map-icon to show/hide map of species distribution)
pH	4.0 - 5.5
Temperature	23.0-32.0°C or 73.4-89.6°F (Show others within this range)
Other Parameters	To reflect the natural habitat, the tank should imitate a blackwater environment with soft, warm, and acidic water. That said, these very adaptable catfish will thrive even in medium hard water with a near neutral pH.
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Luckily, they are happy to eat most aquarium foods. Dry foods 4-5 days a week with frozen or live foods 2-3 times per week is fine for normal maintenance. Reverse this ratio when attempting captive reproduction.
Furniture	For a true biotope, the substrate should consist of about 1/2 inch of peat. Place numerous pieces of driftwood about the tank to create hiding places and use lots of floating plants. These fish are also very happy in heavily planted tanks. The most important furniture is driftwood, rocks, or other structures that provide caves for the fish to hide in.
Compatibility	These wonderful fish get along with most tankmates. When properly fed, they very rarely attempt to eat even the fry of other fishes. Ideal tankmates would be Pearl Gouramis, Krytopterus catfish, and blackwater Rasbora spp.
Suggested Tankmates	Ideal tankmates would be Pearl Gouramis, Glass (Krytopterus catfish), and blackwater Rasbora spp.
Breeding	So far only successful with hormone injections. These fish are commercially produced in the far East and Russia. Breeding these fish would be a very worthwhile attempt for an advanced hobbyist. Maintain the fish alone in the biotope set-up described above. When the females are gravid, begin daily large water changes with distilled or R.O. water that is slightly cooler than the temperature of the aquarium. The eggs should be scattered in the peat substrate where they will be protected from the hungry parents.
Further Information
References	Revue Suisse de Zoologie v. 12 (no. 2)
Registered Keepers	(1) synoguy, (2) Silurus, (3) Redcatman, (4) TP (k: 5), (5) dragonphish (k: 3), (6) pickles4601, (7) Jools, who also notes: "A lone specimen for now!", (8) Catfish freak, (9) Apostolis, (10) JamieH, (11) syno-kev, (12) Catfishfingers, (13) Animusartificio. 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 1997 October
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Last Update	2013 Jan 04 13:04 (species record created: 2001 Apr 17 00:00)

Cat-eLog Data Sheet

Scientific Name

Mystus bimaculatus (Volz, 1904)

Common Name(s)

Two Spot Catfish

Type Locality

Sumatra

Synonym(s)

Macrones bimaculatus

Pronunciation

miss tuss - by mack ewe LATT uss

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. bi = two, maculatus = spotted in reference to the dark shoulder spot and the dark marking on the caudal peduncle.

Species Information

Size

80mm (3.1") 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.

Easily identified by its overall red-brown body and two dark markings on the shoulder and caudal peduncle. These markings are surrounded by lighter colouration.

Sexing

Males possess a genital papilla just for of the anal fin. The genital papilla look like an extra unattached fin ray. Amongst groups of healthy mature specimens the females are more robust, especially when gravid.

Habitat Information

Distribution

Known only from peat swamps in Sumatra. The natural habitat of this fish is facing serious pressures from man.
Pacific, Greater Sunda Island Rivers, Sumatra Waters (click on these areas to find other species found there)

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

4.0 - 5.5

Temperature

23.0-32.0°C or 73.4-89.6°F (Show others within this range)

Other Parameters

To reflect the natural habitat, the tank should imitate a blackwater environment with soft, warm, and acidic water. That said, these very adaptable catfish will thrive even in medium hard water with a near neutral pH.

Husbandry Information

Feeding

Luckily, they are happy to eat most aquarium foods. Dry foods 4-5 days a week with frozen or live foods 2-3 times per week is fine for normal maintenance. Reverse this ratio when attempting captive reproduction.

Furniture

For a true biotope, the substrate should consist of about 1/2 inch of peat. Place numerous pieces of driftwood about the tank to create hiding places and use lots of floating plants. These fish are also very happy in heavily planted tanks. The most important furniture is driftwood, rocks, or other structures that provide caves for the fish to hide in.

Compatibility

These wonderful fish get along with most tankmates. When properly fed, they very rarely attempt to eat even the fry of other fishes. Ideal tankmates would be Pearl Gouramis, Krytopterus catfish, and blackwater Rasbora spp.

Suggested Tankmates

Ideal tankmates would be Pearl Gouramis, Glass (Krytopterus catfish), and blackwater Rasbora spp.

Breeding

So far only successful with hormone injections. These fish are commercially produced in the far East and Russia. Breeding these fish would be a very worthwhile attempt for an advanced hobbyist. Maintain the fish alone in the biotope set-up described above. When the females are gravid, begin daily large water changes with distilled or R.O. water that is slightly cooler than the temperature of the aquarium. The eggs should be scattered in the peat substrate where they will be protected from the hungry parents.

Further Information

References

Revue Suisse de Zoologie v. 12 (no. 2)

Registered Keepers

(1) synoguy, (2) Silurus, (3) Redcatman, (4) TP (k: 5), (5) dragonphish (k: 3), (6) pickles4601, (7) Jools, who also notes: "A lone specimen for now!", (8) Catfish freak, (9) Apostolis, (10) JamieH, (11) syno-kev, (12) Catfishfingers, (13) Animusartificio.

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