Golden soldier catfish
Mystus tengara
Also known as Tengara mystus, Striped dwarf catfish tengara
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–81°F
- 23–27°C
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Adult size
- 7.1 in
- 18 cm
- Minimum tank
- 42 gal
- 160 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Bagridae
- Origin
- Ganges and Brahmaputra lowlands
Overview
The golden soldier catfish is a gregarious, active bagrid for a roomy tank with robust company. It is a step up from the easiest fish.
Did you know
The golden soldier catfish's neat gold stripes and habit of moving in ranked groups suit the soldier name. That same pattern has long caused it to be muddled in the trade with its smaller relative, Mystus vittatus.
Caring for the golden soldier catfish
Give a small group of golden soldier catfish a tank of around 42 gal (160 L), with room to move. Provide open floor to patrol, a sand or fine gravel bed, driftwood, rockwork and some planting. Steady filtration and moderate flow suit it, and it appreciates shade and cover between feeds.
Keep the water warm, at 73 to 81°F (23 to 27°C), with a forgiving soft to neutral pH of 6.0 to 7.5. It is hardy in the aquarium. Feed sinking pellets, wafers and frozen or live foods such as bloodworm and prawn.
The golden soldier catfish does best in a group of several, where it grows bolder and more active by day. It is generally peaceful but opportunistic and will eat small fish. Keep it with robust, medium-sized tank mates and avoid tiny species. Breeding is not documented in home aquariums, though it spawns seasonally in the wild.
Good to know
The golden soldier catfish is a bagrid in the family Bagridae, also sold as the tengara mystus. Several gold and dark stripes run the length of its body. It is a schooling, mostly bottom-oriented river fish.
In the wild
The golden soldier catfish is found across the Ganges and Brahmaputra lowlands. It lives in rivers, ponds, ditches and floodplains, in both flowing and still water.
Common questions
What size tank does a golden soldier catfish need?
A golden soldier catfish needs at least 42 gal (160 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a golden soldier catfish need?
A golden soldier catfish is comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
What does a golden soldier catfish eat?
A golden soldier catfish eats sinking pellets, wafers and frozen or live foods such as bloodworm and prawn. It is opportunistic and will also eat small fish.
How big does a golden soldier catfish get?
An adult golden soldier catfish reaches about 7.1 in (18 cm).
Related species
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