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 e all love bagrids don't we?. Here is another which sports a very impressive looking extended dorsal fin and your usual slate grey body colour, Mystus bocourti which can still be found in publications under its old name of Heterobagrus bocourti which is now a synonym.

Mystus bocourti - in the aquarium

This species is distinguished from all other Mystus (indeed, from all other Asian Bagridae except Bagrichthys hypselopterus) by its extraordinary high dorsal fin, involving great elongation of the non-serrate dorsal fin spine and first three or four soft rays. Occurs in medium to large-sized rivers. M. bocourti is found in the Chao Phraya and Mekong basins, in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam.

Mystus bocourti - in the field

M. bocourti has been assessed by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as vulnerable because of an inferred population decrease of more than 30% in the past ten years (2009). This is as a result of high levels of pollution and hydrological alterations, including dams, in both the Chao Phraya and Mekong river basins.

There are a number of large dams and other water diversion projects which are an additional threat to M. bocourti in both the Chao Phraya and Mekong basins; effects of developments such as these to the freshwater ecosystem include alterations to the hydrological cycle, and changes to the levels of sedimentation and dissolved o². Dams also act as a physical barrier, which is especially pertinent to M. bocourti, a potamodromous species. More dams are currently under construction and planned for the future.

Hi fin Mystus

Heterobagrus bocourti, Prajadhipokia rex

Bagrinae

Asia: Mekong and Chao Phraya River basins. Type locality: Siam.

24.0cm (9½ins)

22-25°C (71-77°F)

Dorsal spines (total): 2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7; Anal soft rays: 10; Vertebrae: 43. Within Mystus sensu stricto, mouth relatively narrow. Caudal peduncle very slender with long and pointed lobes to caudal fin.

Can only be kept with the same or larger species as this bagrid, common with many from this family, can eat smaller fish. Keep either 3-5 specimens in a large tank with plants to the background. Substrate should be sand and provide hiding places with good filtration. Not a community type catfish but can be kept with fish that are too large to be swallowed, i.e. over 10cm (4ins).

In its native waters the adults feed on crustaceans and benthic invertebrates. In the aquarium feed tablet and pellet foods, earthworms, and live and frozen foods. Not a fussy eater.

Mystus: from “mystax” meaning whiskered or moustache (hair on the upper lip). Mystus was first used by Belon in 1553 to describe all fish with whiskers.
bocourti: in honour of zoologist and artist Marie Firmin Bocourt (1819-1904), who collected type and/or sent specimens to Bleeker for his review.

Photo Credits

© Allan James @ 

© Jean-Francois Helias @