Until 1989, the concept of K. bicirrhis included its smaller relative Kryptopterus vitreolus ("ghost catfish"; often confused with K. minor).

In Cambodia it is known as trey kes prak (Khmer: ត្រីកេះប្រាក់) and used to make the fermented fish paste prahok.

[2][3] Kryptopterus bicirrhis is found in Borneo, Sumatra, the Malay Peninsula, and the Chao Phraya and Mekong drainage basins.

It is a diurnal predator and mainly eats water bugs and occasionally smaller fishes.

[7] Kryptopterus bicirrhis are extremely responsive to magnetic stimuli and are known to have electroreceptor organs already.