Taxonomy & naming
Described by Tyson Roberts in 1983, with the type locality at Kemrat, Thailand. It is a valid species in the Catalog of Fishes. Bagarius was long treated as a one- or two-species genus; Roberts's 1983 revision split several large forms, including this one.
Morphology
A heavy, flattened, big-headed catfish with a broad mouth, small eyes and tough skin ridged with plaques. FishBase gives a maximum of 27.5 in SL.
Habitat
A big-river catfish of the Mekong and Chao Phraya basins, usually associated with rapids. FishBase classes it as a demersal, potamodromous freshwater fish, meaning it migrates within rivers.
Feeding
A predator that feeds on fishes, with large invertebrates likely as well. Small juveniles in the trade take live and frozen foods.
Mating
Mating behaviour is not documented for Bagarius suchus in the sources available to the atlas. Sexes cannot be separated reliably from the information available.
Breeding
No aquarium breeding record is known to the atlas.
In the aquarium
Juveniles are sold, but the adult is a big-river predator that will outgrow nearly any home tank and eat tankmates. Only a very large public-aquarium-scale system with flow suits it. Avoid buying on impulse.
Conservation
The IUCN Red List assessed Bagarius suchus as Near Threatened in 2011, meaning it is close to qualifying for a threatened category. It is sold fresh as food in its range. Hillstream fishes are sensitive to siltation, damming and altered flow.