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Hi-fin mystus

Mystus falcarius

Also known as Falcarius catfish, Hi-fin cat

FreshwaterFish

Hi-fin mystus (Mystus falcarius)

Care at a glance

Temperature
73–81°F
23–27°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
7.5 in
19 cm
Minimum tank
79 gal
300 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Rare
Family
Bagridae
Origin
Irrawaddy and Sittaung basins, Myanmar

Overview

The hi-fin mystus is a tall-finned Burmese catfish, an active and mostly nocturnal bottom fish. It suits a keeper with some experience.

Did you know

The species name falcarius means sickle-bearer, from the Latin falx. It refers to the deeply concave back edge of the hi-fin mystus's dorsal fin and to the crescent-shaped dark mark behind its gill cover.

Caring for the hi-fin mystus

Give the hi-fin mystus a tank of around 79 gal (300 L), with cover and open swimming length. A sand bed, driftwood, rocky caves, some planting and moderate flow suit it. It cruises the open floor and wants places to hide by day.

Keep the water warm, at 73 to 81°F (23 to 27°C), and soft to neutral at a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. It is not fussy about chemistry as long as the water stays clean and stable. Feed meaty sinking foods, frozen bloodworm, prawn and the occasional earthworm.

Although it is a Mystus, keep it singly or as a single pair rather than in a shoal. It can be pushy with its own kind in a tank. It will eat small tank mates but ignores fish too large to swallow, so choose sturdy, medium to large companions. Breeding has not been recorded in aquariums.

Good to know

The hi-fin mystus is a bagrid in the family Bagridae, described by Chakrabarty and Ng in 2005. It carries very long whiskers that reach back to the tail. It is also sold as the falcarius catfish or hi-fin cat.

In the wild

The hi-fin mystus lives in Myanmar, in the Irrawaddy and neighboring river drainages. It works the slower reaches and floodplains over soft substrates.

Common questions

What size tank does a hi-fin mystus need?

A hi-fin mystus needs at least 79 gal (300 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a hi-fin mystus need?

A hi-fin mystus is comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a hi-fin mystus eat?

A hi-fin mystus eats meaty sinking foods, frozen bloodworm, prawn and the occasional earthworm. It will also eat small tank mates.

How big does a hi-fin mystus get?

An adult hi-fin mystus reaches about 7.5 in (19 cm).

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