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he genus Bagarius is described as predatory, unlike other members of the family Sisoridae, which tend to be omnivorous. In its natural habitat, Bagarius suchus, along with other members of this genus, will live under bogwood or logs in fast-flowing rivers in wait for its next victim. All of the Hillstream Catfishes are able to inhabit mountain streams by virtue of the fact that the skin on the undersides of their bodies is adapted by being corrugated, thus acting as an adhesive attachment to rocks and stones. In addition to the skin being corrugated or folded, another factor that makes these fish better able to withstand strong water currents is their flattened heads.

    Bagarius suchus

As of January 2021 there are now five Bagarius species described. The "Devil Catfish" Bagarius bagarius from the Indian subcontinent. The "Dwarf Goonch" B. vegrandis is found in Chao Phraya and the Mekong. The "Flat head Goonch" B. suchus (this months factsheet) which is found in Chao Phraya and the Mekong. The Giant B. lica is found in every basin except Salween. B. rutilis from Vietnam, and the undescribed species B. sp. salween which is only found in Salween and is now described as B. protos.. B. yarrelli is now a synonym of Bagarius bagarius.

Crocodile catfish, Flat Head Goonch

None

Sisorinae

Asia: Mekong and Chao Phraya basins. Type locality: Thailand, Kemrat.

70.0cm. (2ft 4ins)

18-25°c (64-77°f.)

Vertebrae: 40 - 42. Rugose dorsal surface of bony cranium and predorsal plate exposed (not covered by skin); a median sharp ridge on supraoccipital crest and paired sharp longitudinal ridges on predorsal plate; skin on sides of head and on body with closely set beadlike or granular protuberances (resembling those of gecko skin) of similar size; body depth 7.9-9.3 (mean 8.5); a darkly pigmented spot or blotch on side of body midway between darkly pigmented bands associated with bases of dorsal and adipose fins. The skin above the neural spines anterior and posterior to the adipose fin always forms large ridges or humps (seven to nine in front of the adipose fin, three to five behind it), much more prominent and more numerous than the relatively weak humps or ridges sometimes formed over the neural spines in B. bagarius and rarely present and even more weakly developed in B. yarrelli (now a synonym of B. bagarius). In B. suchus the adipose fin origin tends to lie even further posterior than in B. bagarius (and therefore much further posteriorly than in B. yarrelli, now a synonym of B. bagarius), and the distance separating the dorsal and adipose fins is much greater in B. suchus than in B. bagarius.

The only member of the genus suitable for large home aquaria. Cool, fast-flowing water is required for this rapid-dwelling fish. The tank should include large, smooth and rounded stones over a sandy substrate. Foods include bloodworms, shrimp and live or dead fish. Best kept alone, given its predatory nature. Will eat or dismantle most tankmates. This catfish is only suitable for experienced big cat keepers and is probably better suited to public aquaria.

Spawns in deep channels.

Not recorded but colouration may be a slight difference.

Requiring meaty foods at all times. In the wild this fish would predate upon smaller fishes, but in an aquarium it can be persuaded to feed upon cockles, mussels, whole prawns, dead fish and earthworms.

Adipose fin: Fleshy finlike projection without rays, behind the rayed dorsal fin.
Anal fin: The median, unpaired, ventrally located fin that lies behind the anus, usually on the posterior half of the fish.
Barbels: Whisker-like structure on the heads of most catfish.
Dorsal fin: The primary rayed fin(s) on top of the body.
Supraoccipital: Unpaired bone at the back of the skull, usually with a crest.
Vertebrae: The bones of the axial skeleton; divided into two sections, precaudal and caudal vertebrae.

Bagarius: From the vernucular name; 'Vaghari'.
suchus: From soúchos (Gr.), ancient name for a crocodile, referring to how its overall appearance, and especially its teeth, are reminiscent of a crocodile (Tyson R. Roberts, pers. comm.).

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