SCOTCAT.COM  

 e are off to Asia this month (Sep.2004) and to Myanmar, formerly the state of Burma, and to a Mystus species that is not all that well known in the hobby but is one of the most colourful in this genus, Mystus pulcher. There have been sporadic imports of this catfish in the United Kingdom in the last year so what better than a factsheet to celebrate its arrival to these shores.

Mystus pulcher

The vernacular name for this species in India is the "Pulcher mystus", pulcher in latin, meaning beautiful, and it can be differentiated from most in this genus by the two dark spots on the body, one on the shoulder area and the other on the base of the caudal. There are also three white/cream longitudinal stripes running from the beginning of the dorsal insertion along to the caudal peduncle. The only other species that is similar is Mystus bimaculatus Volz, 1904, but the colouration of the body is more reddish and the two spots have a lighter outer edge to them and they also lack the 3 body stripes.

Mystus pulcher

This is a fairly easy species to keep and is quite adaptable to different water parameters in the aquarium. It is also a good species for any ambitious breeder to undertake as they do not grow large and are not aggressive. I am at the moment in the process of carrying out this task and I'm hoping of some luck in the future as this is indeed a beautiful species.

Hiding places are beneficial to this species as it will give them confidence to come out and feed and to also view them. Substrate can be of your own choice, either sand or gravel.

There is quite a confusion with the size given, which in some literature can range from 5cm (2 ins) to 15cm (6ins). I would go with 12cm (5ins) as viewing them they look like that the max. size of 15cm might be just a bit out of their growth range. These sizes are of course standard length which takes in a size measured from the snout to the caudal peduncle.

The Pulcher Mystus

Macrones pulcher

-

Asia: Myanmar, Bhamo close to Yunnan border; small muddy streams along Kaminng Jade Mines Road, Myitkyina district.

12.0cm. (5ins)

23-25°c (73-77°f.)

Four pairs of barbels, 2 maxillary, 2 mandibular and 2 nasal. Two dark spots on the body, one on the tympanum and the other on the caudal peduncle. The supraoccipital process meets the basal bones of the dorsal fin. Maxillary barbels reaching to insertion of anal fin.

Will do well in your medium to large aquarium with larger Tetra type fish and Barbs.

Surprisingly they love flake food which will give them all the vitamins they desire. They should of course be fed a varied diet consisting of the former, tablet foods and frozen foods such as bloodworm.

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.
pulcher: From the Latin pulcher ='beautiful', alluding to the attractive colour pattern.

Photo Credits

© Allan James @