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Asian bumblebee catfish (Pseudomystus siamensis) — Bagridae

Asian bumblebee catfish

Pseudomystus siamensis
Family: Bagridae
LC · Least Concern

The Asian bumblebee catfish (Pseudomystus siamensis) is a freshwater fish of the family Bagridae that grows up to 18 cm.

Length
18 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The Asian bumblebee catfish is a small catfish from fresh water of Southeast Asia, in the Mekong and Chao Phraya basins. The species grows to about 18 cm and has a stocky, scaleless body with conspicuous dark and yellow cross-bars, like a bumblebee, and barbels around the mouth. On the dorsal and pectoral fins it bears strong spines that can prick painfully when handled. As a nocturnal bottom-dweller it shelters by day among wood and stones and searches at night for insect larvae and small invertebrates. The fish appears in the aquarium hobby. The IUCN assesses the species as Least Concern (LC).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Asian bumblebee catfish?

The Asian bumblebee catfish has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly yellow-gold and shows a vertical stripes pattern.

Where does the Asian bumblebee catfish live?

The Asian bumblebee catfish lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Asian bumblebee catfish get?

The Asian bumblebee catfish grows to a maximum of about 18 cm.

Is the Asian bumblebee catfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Asian bumblebee catfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Asian bumblebee catfish edible?

The Asian bumblebee catfish is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Aziatische hommelmeerval verified
English name
Asian bumblebee catfish verified
Scientific name
Pseudomystus siamensis
Family
Bagridae
Other names
Asian bumblebee catfish; Barred leiocassis; Bumblebee catfish; Siamese barred catfish; Siamese catfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
18.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Yellow / gold sourced
Pattern
Vertical bars sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
Yes sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

More from the family Bagridae

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