Breeding Bagrichthys macracanthus

Breeding notes for Bagrichthys macracanthus, the black lancer catfish: a Sumatran bagrid that spawns in flooded areas in the wild and is unrecorded in captivity.

Overview

Bagrichthys macracanthus, the black lancer, is a bagrid catfish reaching about 200-230 mm standard length. Seriously Fish gives its type locality as the confluence of the Lamatang and Enim rivers in Sumatra, Indonesia, and suggests the species may be endemic to Sumatra although it has traditionally been considered more widespread. It is a shy, nocturnal fish that prefers dimly-lit tanks with abundant hiding places, kept at 24-28 degrees Celsius and pH 5.5-7.0.

Sexing

Seriously Fish reports clear sexual differences. Males display a pointed genital papilla anterior to the anal fin and noticeably longer barbels, while females are typically slightly larger-bodied when sexually mature.

Spawning Behavior & Trigger

In nature, adults relocate to temporarily flooded areas during the wet season to spawn. The seasonal inundation of new habitat is the natural reproductive trigger, but no spawning behaviour, fecundity or egg data has been documented in aquaria.

Common Challenges

The species is territorial toward benthic fish, especially conspecifics; Seriously Fish notes that males rarely tolerate one another except in very large setups and recommends keeping one male with three or more females. Combined with the complete absence of captive breeding records, this makes reproduction an unproven undertaking.