Asian Bumblebee Catfish Care Guide
Pseudomystus siamensis is a banded nocturnal bagrid catfish from the Mekong and Chao Phraya basins of Southeast Asia.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
The Asian bumblebee catfish (Pseudomystus siamensis) is a bagrid catfish with a banded 'bumblebee' pattern, a pair of nasal barbels in front of the eyes, and a scaleless body. It is a shy, nocturnal species that emerges at night to feed. It is sometimes confused with the South American bumblebee catfish.
Taxonomy
- Family: Bagridae
- Genus: Pseudomystus
- Scientific name: Pseudomystus siamensis
Habitat
According to Seriously Fish, the species is native to the lower Mekong river running through Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, and to the Chao Phraya river in Thailand.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 150 L (Seriously Fish: a single fish needs about 108 L)
- Temperature: 22-27 °C (record); Seriously Fish reports 20-26 °C
- pH: 6-7.5 (Seriously Fish: 5.8-7.8)
- GH: 5-15 °dGH (Seriously Fish: 4-25 °H)
- Maximum size: about 15 cm SL (Seriously Fish)
- Lifespan: 5-8 years
Diet
It is a predatory species that adapts to prepared foods in captivity, taking meaty items such as prawns, mussels, cockle, lancefish and earthworms, and most specimens will eat sinking dried foods. Seriously Fish advises against feeding mammal meat such as beef heart and against feeder fish.
Compatibility
The species is territorial toward other bottom-dwellers and conspecifics and will eat small tankmates, but it tolerates larger fish that occupy different areas of the tank. Seriously Fish recommends medium to large cyprinids, characins and peaceful cichlids, plus plenty of hiding places and dim lighting. The record warns against small nano fish, aggressive cichlids and shrimp.
Asian Bumblebee Catfish Breeding Guide
Overview
The Asian bumblebee catfish (Pseudomystus siamensis) is a bagrid from Southeast Asian river systems, including the lower Mekong (Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam) and the Chao Phraya in Thailand, reaching up to 15 cm standard length. It is a strictly nocturnal display catfish that has not been bred in the hobby.
Sexing
Females have a stockier body shape than males. Males have a prominent elongated genital papilla and more vivid light markings than females.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
The only documented reproductive note for this species is that, in the wild, spawning coincides with the onset of the wet season. No aquarium method, trigger, egg-deposition site or fry-rearing protocol has been recorded in the hobby.
Common Challenges
Since hobby spawning is undocumented, the species should be kept as a display fish rather than a breeding project, with soft to moderately hard, slightly acidic water (20-26 °C, pH 5.8-7.8, 4-25 dH) and plenty of caves and driftwood for daytime cover.