TankBud

Wasp bee catfish

Akysis vespa

Also known as Orange mini bee cat, Vespa catfish

FreshwaterFish

Wasp bee catfish (Akysis vespa)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–79°F
22–26°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
1.6 in
4 cm
Minimum tank
11 gal
40 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Egg layer
Rarity
Rare
Family
Akysidae
Origin
Ataran basin, Myanmar

Overview

The wasp bee catfish is the best known of the bee catfishes, a boldly banded nano species for a cool, sandy tank. It is best kept by someone with a little experience.

Did you know

The whole bee catfish genus is nicknamed for the wasp bee catfish. It stung so memorably that its describers named it after the wasp. The wider group then picked up the bee and bumble bee trade names from the same banded, well armed template.

Caring for the wasp bee catfish

Give the wasp bee catfish around 11 gal (40 L) with a soft sand bed, smooth rounded stones and wood. The sand is a must, since it buries itself with only its eyes showing. It comes out to forage at night.

Keep the water cool, soft to neutral and well oxygenated, at 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Run strong flow from a generously sized filter.

Feed sinking and frozen foods after dark, such as bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimp. It may ignore dried foods at first.

The wasp bee catfish is peaceful and community safe, happy alone or in a small group of its own kind with other calm, small fish. Handle it carefully to avoid its stinging fin spines. Spawning has been reported after a sharp drop in temperature, with eggs hatching in around four days. It is still rarely bred and has no established breeding record.

Good to know

The wasp bee catfish, Akysis vespa, is a stream catfish of the family Akysidae, banded in orange and dark brown. Its name, vespa, is Latin for wasp, chosen for both the striped colors and the painful sting of its fin spines. It is also sold as the orange mini bee cat or vespa catfish.

In the wild

The wasp bee catfish comes from the Ataran river drainage of southern Myanmar, part of the wider Salween system. It lives in fast, clear streams over sand and cobble.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The wasp bee catfish is a peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a wasp bee catfish need?

A wasp bee catfish needs at least 11 gal (40 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a wasp bee catfish need?

A wasp bee catfish is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a wasp bee catfish eat?

A wasp bee catfish eats sinking and frozen foods after dark, such as bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimp. It may ignore dried foods at first.

How big does a wasp bee catfish get?

An adult wasp bee catfish reaches about 1.6 in (4 cm).

How does a wasp bee catfish breed?

Wasp bee catfish have been reported to spawn after a sharp drop in temperature, with eggs hatching in around four days. They are still rarely bred and have no established breeding record.

Related species