Mystus

The two spot mystus, Mystus bimaculatus, is a small catfish found only on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. It inhabits peat swamps, and its natural habitat is in danger of destruction by human activity. Very peaceful with even the smallest fish, it is more outgoing in a small group of its own kind. Commercial breeders have bred it only by hormone injection.

Day's mystus, Mystus bleekeri, is a bagrid catfish from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar and Indonesia. It superficially resembles the more common M. vittatus but grows larger, to around 155 mm, and has a much longer adipose fin. Peaceful and gregarious, it suits communities of larger fish, though adults will probably eat small fish, and it is more outgoing in a small group.

The Asian upside down catfish, Mystus leucophasis, is a bagrid catfish from rivers in Myanmar that spends most of its time swimming inverted. Often sold at only a couple of inches, it is confused with the much smaller Synodontis nigriventris but is a uniform black without countershading. It grows to around 300 mm, will eat smaller fish, is usually intolerant of its own kind and is unsuitable for the general community tank.

Mystus mysticetus is a peaceful bagrid catfish from rivers of Laos, Thailand and Cambodia. It migrates into flooded forest in the wet season and is apparently often seen living and feeding in large shoals with its congener M. multiradiatus. The only Mystus with laterally positioned eyes, it makes a good bottom dweller for communities of larger peaceful fish, though it will probably eat small fish when adult.

Mystus rhegma is a peaceful bagrid catfish from Laos, Thailand and Cambodia, where it inhabits rivers and flooded areas including fields. An irregular import, little is known about its natural behaviour. Gregarious, it makes a good bottom dweller for communities of larger peaceful fish, though it will probably eat small fish when adult.

Mystus singaringan is a large bagrid catfish from Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia and Indonesia. Not often seen in the hobby, it grows to around 300 mm and is used as a food fish in many of its native countries. It can be territorial and aggressive, eats smaller fish and is usually intolerant of its own kind, so it suits a tank of bigger fish such as larger barbs and large cichlids.