Mistus tengara

Mistus tengara, scientific name Mystus tengara, belongs to the family Bagridae (Orcas). The catfish is native to South Asia. It is found in river systems in Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bangladesh.

Description

In the wild, adults reach a length of up to 18 cm. In a home aquarium, they are noticeably smaller, according to observations, catfish grow up to only 10 cm. Catfish has an elongated, slender body. A small hump on the back crowns a high dorsal fin. The fins are large, the tail is bifurcated, which indicates an active lifestyle of this species.

The body pattern consists of rows of dark horizontal stripes running from head to tail. The main background of the body is silvery with a green and yellow tint.

Outwardly, it is almost identical to its closest relative Mistus striped. From the point of view of an ordinary aquarist, both fish are the same, not only externally, but also in terms of content. For this reason, many suppliers do not bother to identify accurately and give one of the names for both species.

Behavior and Compatibility

Peaceful calm look. Catfish prefer to be in the company of relatives, so it is recommended to maintain a group size of 3-4 individuals. Compatible with many other non-aggressive fish of comparable size.

Brief information:

• The volume of the aquarium – from 250 liters.
• Temperature – 20-27°C
• Value pH — 6.0–7.0
• Water hardness – 5–15 dGH
• Substrate type – any
• Lighting – subdued
• Brackish water – no
• Water movement – little or no
• Fish size – up to 18 cm, but in aquariums up to 10 cm
• Food – any sinking food
• Temperament – peaceful
• Content – in a group of 3-4 individuals

Maintenance and care, arrangement of the aquarium

The optimal size of the aquarium for a small group of fish starts from 250 liters. In the design, it is recommended to provide for places with dense aquatic vegetation, driftwood and other natural or artificial design elements. All of them will serve as shelters.

Mistus tengara prefers soft, slightly acidic water. It is desirable to keep in conditions with a weak or absent current. For this reason, it is worth choosing a filter that does not cause excess water movement.

Food

Omnivorous species. Accepts most popular ready-made products intended for feeding aquarium fish.