Black lancer catfish (Bagrichthys macracanthus) care guide

Group

Freshwater fish

Other names

Black lancer, Humped stinging catfish, Leiocassis macracanthus

Family

Bagridae (bagrid catfishes)

Origin

Sumatra, Borneo and the other Greater Sunda Islands, and Peninsular Thailand (type locality eastern Sumatra).

Water

freshwater

Maximum size

25 cm

Temperature

24–28°C

pH

5.5–7

Hardness

3–18 dGH (estimated)

Minimum tank

300 litres

Care level

intermediate

Temperament

peaceful

Care

A dark, slender catfish with a very tall dorsal spine, a long adipose fin and a narrow, flattened tail stem. It reaches about 25 cm standard length. No source gives a tank size; we suggest at least 300 litres (an estimate). It prefers soft, acidic water (pH 5.5–7.0) at about 24–28 °C, with no more than a gentle current. Give it plenty of cover such as wood, caves and plants, as it is mostly active at night. Safety: as the name 'humped stinging catfish' suggests, the long dorsal spine can give a painful wound, so net it carefully. Males have a white genital papilla. It was formerly placed in Leiocassis. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Sources: PlanetCatfish (planetcatfish.com/common/species.php?speciesid=36). Checked October 2026.

Diet

PlanetCatfish gives no feeding notes. Offer sinking pellets and meaty frozen foods such as bloodworm, prawn and mussel, fed after lights-out (general guidance).

Breeding

There are no breeding reports for this species.

Compatibility and tank mates

PlanetCatfish gives no compatibility notes. It is not known as an aggressive fish, but it may eat very small fish at night, so keep it with medium-sized, peaceful fish that like soft water.

Last updated 5 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.