PlanetCatfish.com - Tachysurus sinensis (Bagridae) Cat-eLog

Adult
Close-up of head
Stamp
Stamp
Juvenile, approximately 5cm

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Tachysurus sinensis** Lacepède, 1803
Common Names	Tawny Dragon Catfish Amur Catfish, Yellow Catfish
Type Locality	Huairou Reservoir, about 2 kilometers northeast of observatory, 40°19'00"N, 116°37'31"E, Huairou County, Beiging, China.
Synonym(s)	Arius sinensis, Bagrus calvarius, Macrones fulvidraco, Pelteobagrus fulvidraco, Pelteobagrus wittenbergii, Pelteobagrus wittenburgii, Pimelodus fulvidraco, Pseudobagrus fulvidraco, Pseudobagrus wittenburgii, Silurus calvarius, Tachysurus fulvidraco, Tachysurus wittenburgii
Pronunciation	trah key sue russ - sigh nen siss
Etymology	The specific epithet is from ''fulva'', tawny, and ''draco'', dragon.
Articles	- CotM 2003 October
Species Information
Size	345mm or 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	Asia: Nam Ma basin (Laos) and Viet Nam to southeastern Siberia. Recorded from Amur river basin. Pacific, South China Sea, Ma (click on these areas to find other species found there) Vietnam waters (click on these areas to find other species found there) Russian Waters, Amur (click on these areas to find other species found there) Login to view the map.
IUCN Red List Category	Not Evaluated
pH	6.0 - 7.6
Temperature	16.0-25.0°C or 60.8-77°F (Show species 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), molluscs and occasionally fishes. Not a fussy feeder in captivity. User data.
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.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Histoire naturelle des poissons (Lacepède) v. 5, pp 150, 15 [?305], Pl. 5 (fig. 2).
Registered Keepers	There are 23 registered keepers, view all "my cats" data.
Wishlists	Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list. There are 2 wishes to keep this species, see who wants what.
Spotters	Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars! There are 9 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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Last Update	2025 Jan 02 01:36 (species record created: 2001 May 03 00:00)