Tachysurus fulvidraco • Bagridae • Cat-eLog

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Tachysurus fulvidraco** (Richardson, 1846)
Common Name(s)	Amur Catfish, Tawny Dragon Catfish, Yellow catfish
Type Locality	Canton, China.
Synonym(s)	Bagrus calvarius, Macrones fulvidraco, Pelteobagrus fulvidraco, Pimelodus fulvidraco, Pseudobagrus fulvidraco, Silurus calvarius
Pronunciation	full vih DRAY ko
Etymology	The specific epithet is from ''fulva'', tawny, and ''draco'', dragon.
Species Information
Size	345mm (13.6") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	Tachysurus can be identified by an extrascapular without a laterosensory canal, and a pterotic with a broad lateral laminar expansion. It is among the most speciose catfish groups in East Asia and its members inhabit habitats ranging from fast-flowing hillstreams to large rivers. Yellow back, yellowish white belly, large and dark brown speckles on sides. Elongated body. Strong spines on pectoral fins with anterior and posterior serrations. Dorsal fin origin much before ventral fin origin. Has an adipose fin. Caudal fin deeply forked. Is an important food fish in China and Korea. Soup made by simmering the fish with herbs and spices is considered to be a medicinal tonic in China. Nowadays rarely seen in the hobby (at least in North America and Europe).
Sexing	Adult males are larger than females.
Habitat Information
Distribution	Nam Ma basin (Laos) and Viet Nam to south-eastern Siberia. Ma (click on these areas to find other species found there) Vietnam waters (click on these areas to find other species found there) (Click the map-icon to show/hide map of species distribution)
pH	6.0 - 7.6
Temperature	16.0-25.0°C or 60.8-77°F (Show others within this range)
Other Parameters	A hardy fish that can live in a wide variety of conditions. This is a cold water fish, so heating is not necessary. Can be successfully maintained in outdoor ponds, assuming climate isn\'t too hot or cold.
Husbandry Information
Feeding	In nature, feeds at the bottom on insects (particularly on trichopterans and chironomids), mollusks and occasionally fishes. Not a fussy feeder in captivity.
Furniture	Inhabits streams and lakes with muddy and sandy bottoms. Best maintained in an aquarium of 55 gallons or larger. Provide ample hiding places.
Compatibility	Generally a peaceful, solitary fish. Should not be kept with small, slow-moving tank mates, as they may be eaten. As a temperate species, you might be tempted to keep it with goldfish. This is not a good idea, slower moving fish will have fins nipped and scales eaten. Fancy goldfish will fare even worse.
Suggested Tankmates	Larger cold water cyprinids such as carp, given its propensity for eating smaller tankmates.
Breeding	In Nature, spawning occurs in summer. Males have been reported to guard both the eggs and larvae in the nest hole, previously dug by the male in the clay bottom. Fry typically hatch in two days. Commercially bred in ponds.
Further Information
References	Rep. Brit. Assoc. Adv. Sci.15th meeting [1845] - pp286
Registered Keepers	(1) Dave Rinaldo, (2) Jools (k: 2), who also notes: "Fin nippers!", (3) Silurus, (4) diburning, (5) vriesea, who also notes: "Bought as "Devil Cat" sold in January.", (6) RobDoran1, (7) yellowcat, who also notes: "Interesting sexual dimorphism, now fully grown, the female is only 5" long, the males were 12" long but have been sold. All were acquired same time @ 1 1/2"...", (8) straitjacketstar, (9) miles44 (k: 2), (10) pickles4601, (11) Skirge (p: 2), (12) mi-tatsu, (13) Birger, (14) arapaimag, (15) amiidae. 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 2003 October
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Last Update	2008 Mar 01 05:29 (species record created: 2001 May 03 00:00)

Cat-eLog Data Sheet

Scientific Name

Tachysurus fulvidraco (Richardson, 1846)

Common Name(s)

Amur Catfish, Tawny Dragon Catfish, Yellow catfish

Type Locality

Canton, China.

Synonym(s)

Bagrus calvarius, Macrones fulvidraco, Pelteobagrus fulvidraco, Pimelodus fulvidraco, Pseudobagrus fulvidraco, Silurus calvarius

Pronunciation

full vih DRAY ko

Etymology

The specific epithet is from ''fulva'', tawny, and ''draco'', dragon.

Species Information

Size

345mm (13.6") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.

Identification

Tachysurus can be identified by an extrascapular without a laterosensory canal, and a pterotic with a broad lateral laminar expansion. It is among the most speciose catfish groups in East Asia and its members inhabit habitats ranging from fast-flowing hillstreams to large rivers.

Yellow back, yellowish white belly, large and dark brown speckles on sides. Elongated body. Strong spines on pectoral fins with anterior and posterior serrations. Dorsal fin origin much before ventral fin origin. Has an adipose fin. Caudal fin deeply forked.

Is an important food fish in China and Korea. Soup made by simmering the fish with herbs and spices is considered to be a medicinal tonic in China.

Nowadays rarely seen in the hobby (at least in North America and Europe).

Sexing

Adult males are larger than females.

Habitat Information

Distribution

Nam Ma basin (Laos) and Viet Nam to south-eastern Siberia.
Ma (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Vietnam waters (click on these areas to find other species found there)

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

6.0 - 7.6

Temperature

16.0-25.0°C or 60.8-77°F (Show others within this range)

Other Parameters

A hardy fish that can live in a wide variety of conditions. This is a cold water fish, so heating is not necessary. Can be successfully maintained in outdoor ponds, assuming climate isn\'t too hot or cold.

Husbandry Information

Feeding

In nature, feeds at the bottom on insects (particularly on trichopterans and chironomids), mollusks and occasionally fishes. Not a fussy feeder in captivity.

Furniture

Inhabits streams and lakes with muddy and sandy bottoms. Best maintained in an aquarium of 55 gallons or larger. Provide ample hiding places.

Compatibility

Generally a peaceful, solitary fish. Should not be kept with small, slow-moving tank mates, as they may be eaten. As a temperate species, you might be tempted to keep it with goldfish. This is not a good idea, slower moving fish will have fins nipped and scales eaten. Fancy goldfish will fare even worse.

Suggested Tankmates

Larger cold water cyprinids such as carp, given its propensity for eating smaller tankmates.

Breeding

In Nature, spawning occurs in summer. Males have been reported to guard both the eggs and larvae in the nest hole, previously dug by the male in the clay bottom. Fry typically hatch in two days. Commercially bred in ponds.

Further Information

References

Rep. Brit. Assoc. Adv. Sci.15th meeting [1845] - pp286

Registered Keepers

(1) Dave Rinaldo, (2) Jools (k: 2), who also notes: "Fin nippers!", (3) Silurus, (4) diburning, (5) vriesea, who also notes: "Bought as "Devil Cat" sold in January.", (6) RobDoran1, (7) yellowcat, who also notes: "Interesting sexual dimorphism, now fully grown, the female is only 5" long, the males were 12" long but have been sold. All were acquired same time @ 1 1/2"...", (8) straitjacketstar, (9) miles44 (k: 2), (10) pickles4601, (11) Skirge (p: 2), (12) mi-tatsu, (13) Birger, (14) arapaimag, (15) amiidae.

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