Bagrichthys majusculus
Bagrichthys majusculus is native to the Mun River, a tributary of the Mekong River in eastern Thailand. This catfish species lives in deep, murky water with low current, moving to the coastal zone only during the spawning season, which coincides with the rainy season. Fish unpretentious, leading a secretive lifestyle and cope with its maintenance can even beginner aquarists.
Bagrichthys majusculus has an elongated black body. The dorsal plumage is bifurcated, with the anterior part much higher than the posterior. The tail plumage is translucent. A kind of business card of the catfish are his white whiskers. Males have a pointed, clearly visible genital papilla located in front of the anal fin. Females are slightly larger than males. The maximum size of the fish is about 17.5 cm.
Bagrichthys majusculus fish are territorial and does not allow any fish to its shelter. It should be noted that the females in this regard are somewhat friendlier. Keep fish can be in a species and the general aquarium with other fish of comparable size occupying the upper and middle layers of the aquarium. It is desirable to keep Bagrichthys majusculus small harem, consisting of 1 male and 3-4 females, but it is often not easy to do, because exactly determine the sex of the fish, especially at a young age, is difficult.
Bagrichthys majusculus are nocturnal, and to be able to watch them the aquarium should be equipped with low-power light, only in these conditions, the fish will leave their hiding places and swim out into the open, where they can be seen. At the bottom of the aquarium should be placed ceramic pots, long plastic tubes with a diameter allowing fish to swim freely in them, caves and large stones. The plants are indifferent to the fish and can be abandoned, but still, to reduce the amount of light entering the bottom, it is desirable to arrange on the surface of the water bushes of floating plants. The number of shelters in the aquarium should be greater than the fish living in it, so that each Bagrichthys majusculus could have its own shelter.
Water parameters: temperature 24-28° C, hardness dH 1-20°, pH 5,5-7,0. Water filtration and aeration is necessary. The current of water in the aquarium should be minimal.
In natural conditions Bagrichthys majusculus feed on small bottom crustaceans, worms and detritus. In aquarium conditions, fish can be fed artemia, moths, dry food containing spirulina. Feed enough fish once a day.
Reproduction
To date, information on the successful breeding of Bagrichthys majusculus is not available. In nature, adult fish in the rainy season swim into flooded areas where they spawn. It is very difficult to recreate such conditions in an aquarium.
