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Three-lined bagrid

Tachysurus trilineatus

Also known as Pseudobagrus trilineatus, Three line cat

FreshwaterFish
Three-lined bagrid (Tachysurus trilineatus)
(c) Lawrence Hylton, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by

Care at a glance

Temperature
64–77°F (18–25°C)
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
3.1 in (8 cm)
Minimum tank
30 gal (112 L)
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Rare
Origin
Streams of southern China
Family
Bagridae

Overview

This is a small, peaceful subtropical catfish of about 8 centimeters, well suited to an unheated or cool tank. It is a bottom-dweller that keeps to itself, so keep it singly rather than expecting group behavior, though its gentle nature lets it share a tank with other calm, similarly sized fish. Its mouth is small, so it poses little threat to tankmates, but very tiny fish or shrimp could still be at risk. Give it a substrate it can forage over, plus stones and wood to shelter among, and some gentle flow. Feed sinking foods, frozen bloodworm, and small live foods. A cool tank of around 110 liters suits it nicely.

In the wild

It is native to cool, flowing streams in the Dong Jiang, or Dong River, drainage of Guangdong Province in southern China. Because it comes from subtropical water, it does not need a heater and prefers cooler conditions, around 18 to 25 C, in soft to neutral water near pH 6.0 to 7.5. Set up a stream-style tank with a gravel and stone bed, some driftwood, and a moderate current. Clean, well-oxygenated water keeps this cool-water fish healthy.

Good to know

Tachysurus trilineatus is a small bagrid catfish, family Bagridae, reaching about 8 centimeters. Its name, trilineatus, means three-lined, for the three dark stripes down its yellowish-brown body, one of which breaks along the lateral line. It is placed by some authorities in the genus Pseudobagrus and by others in Tachysurus. It is carnivorous but small, and its breeding is not documented in the aquarium.

Did you know

The three dark stripes running its length have earned it the trade nickname highway catfish, as if its flanks were painted with lane markings.

Tank mates

Three-lined bagrid is a peaceful, solitary species that keeps to the bottom. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a Three-lined bagrid need?

A Three-lined bagrid needs at least 30 gal (112 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH do Three-lined bagrid need?

Three-lined bagrid are comfortable at 64–77°F (18–25°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

How big do Three-lined bagrid get?

An adult Three-lined bagrid reaches about 3.1 in (8 cm).

Where to buy

Some links may not be the exact species or variety.

…or ask your local fish store.

Appears in

Freshwater fish · Community fish · Bottom dwellers · Coldwater fish

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