My first asian catfish...

[MatsP]

I've finally bought a catfish from Asia - not quite sure of the ID just yet - it is definitely a stripey Mystus, but the label in the shop said "Striped Pims", so not much help at all. I told them that this was completely wrong, and they agreed...

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Mats

[Martin S, posts: 1746]

So...where are the photos then?
Don't keep us waiting!

[MatsP]

Photos will be here shortly.

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Mats

[MatsP]

Photos (sorry, not the greatest...)

Any suggestion on ID would be great. And hopefully they don't grow too massive, as I've got 5 of them...

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Mats

[Martin S, posts: 1746]

Mats
My first instinct was M. tengara, but think probably M. vittatus.
Martin

[MatsP]

I'm leaning towards Mystus mysticetus.

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).

This may not be straight from below, but, I think it's sufficient to say that the above is true:

Of course, I'm rubbish with all Asian catfish, so I could well be wrong.

The LFS (Lynchford aquatics) also had some Hara jerdoni, which I'm pretty sure is correct ID (although the shop used the old synonym of Erethistes jerdoni

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Mats

[Jools]

Actually, I think the shop might be right about the Erethistes, I haven't gotten around to updating the clog.

Jools

[MatsP]

Actually, I think the shop might be right about the Erethistes, I haven't gotten around to updating the clog.

Jools

If they ARE right, then I'm 100% sure it's NOT because they (or their wholesaler) are up to date with the latest science, but rather that they are using an old name that happens to have been re-established ...

One of the staff managed to get some sort of bycatch in it too - I told him to post here after a photo session. We'll see...

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Mats

[Shane]

I'm leaning towards Mystus mysticetus.

That they are, though you'll find them as M. vittatus in many books. I find them to be one of the most active sp in the genus. Did you manage to get males and females?

-Shane

[MatsP]

I'm leaning towards Mystus mysticetus.

That they are, though you'll find them as M. vittatus in many books. I find them to be one of the most active sp in the genus. Did you manage to get males and females?

-Shane

Thanks for the confirmation.

I haven't checked for males/females. I will have a look later on today, I think. They still had a few in the tank, so if I'm short of one, I'll perhaps get some more. I suspect that I only need one male...

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Mats

[andywoolloo, posts: 2744]

they are very pretty, with world class whisks!

[MatsP]

Looks like they are either juveniles or females. I'm not sure how large they need to be to show the "gonopodium".

They are happily feeding and very lively - although from time to time I worry that some have gone lost, because they do still behave like catfish from time to time - hide, that is.

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Mats

[Silurus]

One of the staff managed to get some sort of bycatch in it too - I told him to post here after a photo session. We'll see...

If it's anything like what I encountered the other day at an LFS here, it's likely to be Pseudolaguvia ribeiroi.

[WhiteLomu, posts: 9]

They look like Mystus mysticetus. I saw them for the first time ever a few weeks ago and bought three. Mine do not come out while the lights are on. They are very effective on any guppies small enough to fit in their mouth. Cheers

[MatsP]

If food are on offer, mine do certainly come out. I don't have any tiny fish in the tank, so can't comment on the "efficency on guppies", but I expect them to eat ANYTHING that fits in their mouth.

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Mats

[MatsP]

Still very active and "fun" fish. I'm beginning to think I've got a male too - I saw a tiny "winkie" on one of the less fat ones [so body shape ALSO indicates male vs. female], and the fish were behaving a bit like a male guppy with a bunch of females...

Does anyone have any idea of what to expect from these fish when it comes to breeding/spawning? I don't hold much hope of these fish actually successfully breeding, as I have several other fish in there that probably would eat the eggs/fry...

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Mats

[Shane]

Breeding should be as typical for the genus. Male will wrap around female and expel milt as she expels eggs. This happens after lots of activity and chasing. Unfortunately very, very few people have bred Mystus without hormone injections (I spent years trying). Certainly less than have naturally spawned non-Rift Lake Synos.
-Shane

[MatsP]

Ok, so I what I saw was probably just normal "madly chasing in the hope that food will arrive".

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Mats

[MatsP]

I picked up the last three of these from Lynchford today - as I have reduced the stocking in the tank, I thought it was a good idea to home the remaining ones. They are so small, I doubt they have grown at all since they went into the shop, where mine are about twice the body-size.

Already taking food, so obviously happy with their new home.

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Mats