PlanetCatfish.com

If anyone in the UK is interested in this fish please let me know, I know where there are some and they are fantastic!
That dorsal fin is remarkable, it goes up like the sail of a yacht when they are actively swimming. Really gorgeous fish, not too colourful but structurally superb.
Pete

Anyone nearby with a digicam that can nab some pics for us / the cat-elog?

Jools

I would like to know where they are if you dont mind posting it here.

How big do they get?

about 10" SL

Where abouts in Asia are they from? Would they tolerate tank mates in a 6' x 2' x 2'?

Depends, what tank mates?

magnum4 wrote:Depends, what tank mates?

OK, let me rephase that: What tank mates would they tolerate in a biggish tank?

this is not a difficult cat to look after. water temperature 22-25ish neutral or thereabouts pH and medium hardness. they will eat fish anythink that fits in there mouth. so a few large fish would be good tank mates.

Where abouts in Asia are they from?

Mystus bocourti (Heteronbagrus is a junior synonym of Mystus) is endemic to the Mekong and Chao Phraya River drainages in mainland Southeast Asia.

From experience, I find that most species of Mystus with a long adipose fin (what Tyson Roberts calls Mystus sensu stricto) tend to be on the aggressive side. If you are keeping it with other fish, make sure the tankmates are large enough to fend for themselves.

Silurus wrote:Mystus bocourti (Heterobagrus is a junior synonym of Mystus) is endemic to the Mekong and Chao Phraya River drainages in mainland Southeast Asia.

They came in from a Thai shipper, so they could be from anywhere between Myanmar and Johore....
I have to say I'm not convinced that they do not deserve separate generic placement. They just 'look' different (very scientific I know...)

Silurus wrote:From experience, I find that most species of Mystus with a long adipose fin (what Tyson Roberts calls Mystus sensu stricto) tend to be on the aggressive side. If you are keeping it with other fish, make sure the tankmates are large enough to fend for themselves.

These do not seem too aggressive with each other in the group of maybe a dozen fish, to be honest I have not seen any overt antagonistic behaviour. More like a group of Pim pictus behaviour-wise than anything else.

They came in from a Thai shipper, so they could be from anywhere between Myanmar and Johore...

Given that this species is not found in Myanmar nor the Malay Peninsula (it's only known from the Chao Phraya and the lower and middle Mekong), I would say it came from Thailand itself.

They just 'look' different

There is nothing that sets them apart from other Mystus with a long adipose fin (such as M. singaringan), other than a very long dorsal spine. The difference in morphology is certainly a lot less different than that between Bagrichthys hypselopterus and B. macropterus, say.

I have a friend who has 3 albino bocourti in a 55 gal. They are about 5", grew up together from about 2-3" and seem to get along fine. I have to believe these were commercially bred in the far east.

Tom wrote:I have a friend who has 3 albino bocourti in a 55 gal. They are about 5", grew up together from about 2-3" and seem to get along fine. I have to believe these were commercially bred in the far east.

Yes, I've seen a picture of one of these albinos before. Would love to have some for the site. This is one of the first catfish I can clearly remember seeing (in a LFS in Dundee) and have always liked the idea of keeping them. Thanks for the heads-up Pete.

Jools

Jools wrote:and have always liked the idea of keeping them. Thanks for the heads-up Pete. Jools

So come and get some then!

I don't have anywhere to put them right now - despite taking delivery of two new 48x18x30's.

Jools

I would trade straight across for huge L 200s if I could get those. In all my years with bagrids I never have actually seen a live M. bocourti.
-Shane

Hey Pete,

What are the odds on you having enough tank space to house one of these for a month or two until I get a few more tanks up and take it off your hands? Are they big enough to sex? Then Shane can see it in the new year and I'll get some good pics of it for a cotm. Just wonder if it will get on OK with my lancers...

I realise this is a big imposition, just say if it's too much hassle.

Jools

Mystus bocourti

Breeding stock: common color&albino

wild stock:common color & rarely albino

Distribution: Meklong, Mekong&Chaophaya river basin

Common name: Hi-fin mystus
Thai Name: Khayaeng Thong, Khayaeng Chay Thong, Khayaeng Kae Saung

Jools wrote: What are the odds on you having enough tank space to house one of these for a month or two until I get a few more tanks up and take it off your hands?

I'll see what I can do.

Jools wrote: Are they big enough to sex?

Dunno, haven't checked their genital papillae.

Jools wrote: Then Shane can see it in the new year and I'll get some good pics of it for a cotm. Just wonder if it will get on OK with my lancers...

I do think these are a shoaling fish, and one on it's own may not be too happy. As for temperament with other fish, this is an unknown quantity. They are cute though, like an Asian analogue of Iheringichthys.
Pete