Bagarius
bagarius (Hamilton, 1822)
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contributors to this species: |
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ScotCat
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Other
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Relevant Information: |
Dorsal spines (total): 1; Dorsal
soft rays (total): 6 - 6; Anal soft rays: 13 - 14; Vertebrae:
38 - 42. Pelvic-fin origin in front of the base of the last
dorsal ray; adipose-fin origin behind the anal-fin origin. Elongate
neural spines 4-8, distally expanded abdominal vertebrae 17-20.
Absence of sharp ridge on top of head; absence of bumps on dorsal
mid-line behind dorsal fin base. Mouth large, inferior and arciform.
Inhabits rapid and rocky pools of large and medium-sized rivers
and feeds on insects, small fishes, frogs and shrimps. Breeds
in rivers prior to the beginning of the annual flood season.
Marketed fresh. Important as a food fish, but the meat spoils
rapidly and can cause illness. Aquarium Care:
This really is a fish destined to live a solitary life due to
the fact that it would eat just about any other occupant that
it could fit inside its mouth. When keeping the Devil Catfish
it is essential to provide the fish with oxygen-rich water due
to the fact that these fish are from highland streams. I have
personally found it essential (Ralph. 2002) to provide good
filtration and water movement in order to keep this fish in
optimum condition. Regular 25% water changes are also appreciated
by this catfish, and I always carry these changes out weekly
and certainly no longer than fortnightly. Diet:
As its common name suggests this truly is a demon amongst the
fish world, 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. It is also documented that this catfish
when kept with fish bigger than itself, that it would eat their
scales. |
Common
Name: |
Devil Catfish |
Synonyms: |
Pimelodus bagarius, Bagarius
yarellii, Bagarius lica, Bagarius buchanani |
Family: |
Sisoridae |
Distribution: |
Asia: Ganges, Mekong
and Chao Phraya basins. Reported from Salween, Maeklong and
Peninsular Thailand |
Size: |
90cm. (36ins) |
Temp: |
18-25°c (64-77°f.) |
p.H. |
6.5-7.8. |
Reference: |
ScotCat
Factsheet no. 78. Dec. 2002.
Baensch, H.A. and R. Riehl 1985 Aquarien atlas.
Band 2. Mergus, Verlag für Natur- und Heimtierkunde GmbH,
Melle, Germany. 1216 p.
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2009. FishBase.
World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version
(01/2011). |
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