Asian upside down catfish (Mystus leucophasis) care guide

Group
Freshwater fish
Other names
Asian upside-down catfish, Burmese upside-down catfish, Sittang mystus
Family
Bagridae (bagrid catfishes)
Origin
Myanmar, including the Sittang River.
Water
freshwater
Maximum size
23 cm
Temperature
23–27°C
pH
6–8
Hardness
Soft to neutral preferred
Minimum tank
300 litres
Care level
intermediate
Temperament
semi_aggressive

Care

An all-black catfish that genuinely swims upside down much of the time; mature fish develop small diamond-shaped flecks on the flanks. It commonly reaches 20 cm or more, and PlanetCatfish gives a maximum of about 23 cm standard length. No source gives a tank size; we suggest at least 300 litres for adults (an estimate). PlanetCatfish recommends one length of PVC pipe (or similar shelter) per fish, plus driftwood. Give a good current and keep the water clean, ideally soft and around neutral, at about 23–27 °C and pH 6.0–8.0. Males are thinner and shorter, with a long genital papilla in front of the anal fin; females are longer and heavier. The fin spines can give a painful jab, so take care when netting. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. It is bred commercially. Sources: PlanetCatfish (planetcatfish.com/common/species.php?speciesid=21). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Not fussy; accepts all prepared foods. Offer sinking and floating pellets with frozen foods such as bloodworm, prawn and mussel.

Breeding

Not reported in home aquaria, although it is bred commercially.

Compatibility and tank mates

It will eat fish less than about three-quarters of its own length. Good tankmates include boisterous cichlids, larger plecos and large cyprinids. Avoid small or slow-moving fish.

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

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