Bumble Bee Catfish

About

The bumble bee catfish (Pseudomystus siamensis) is a stocky, boldly banded bottom-dweller from the river systems of Southeast Asia, including the Mekong and Chao Phraya basins, where it lives among the currents of rivers and streams. Its alternating dark and pale bands are what give it the common name, and the same pattern has caused some confusion in the trade. Several closely related Pseudomystus species get sold under the same label. A quick way to sort out identity questions: this species has a distinctive pair of nasal barbels just forward of the eyes, which sets it apart from the South American catfish that shares a similar nickname. Worth noting too that older literature often lists this fish under the genus Leiocassis, so don't be thrown off if you come across that name. In the aquarium it's manageable for a beginner in terms of water chemistry tolerance, but its personality demands some thought. It will readily swallow any tankmate small enough to fit in its mouth, and it gets genuinely territorial with other bottom-dwellers, particularly its own kind. Larger mid-water fish like good-sized cyprinids or peaceful cichlids tend to work well as companions. Plenty of caves and broken sightlines go a long way toward keeping the peace.