Page 118 - Encyclopedia of Aquarium and Pond Fish, 3rd Edition

116 FRESHWATER FISH DIRECTORY

CATFISH

Catfish represent one of the largest groups of aquarium
fish and also one of the most diverse in terms of
appearance and lifestyle. There are more than 2,000
species in approximately 30 families. Some of these
fish are sedentary and suitable for a community tank,
while others are active predators that grow to a large
size. Identification is not always easy, partly because
members of the same species often show differences
in patterning and partly because new species are
constantly being discovered. The complex and
expanding nature of one catfish family, the Loricariids,
has led to the development of a classification system
based on “L” numbers (see p. 21).
Glass Catfish (Kryptopterus bicirrhis) rely on camouflage for protection, but
other catfish can defend themselves with spines, poison, and even electric shocks.

Auchenipterichthys thoracatus Kryptopterus bicirrhis Chaca bankanensis
Midnight Catfish Glass Catfish Chocolate Frogmouth

ORIGINS South America, in the upper reaches of the ORIGINS Southern Asia, from eastern India, Thailand, ORIGINS Southeast Asia, occurring in parts of Thailand
Amazon and its southern tributaries in Peru. and Malaysia to Java, Sumatra, and Borneo. and Malaysia, extending to Indonesia.
SIZE 4 ⁄2 in (11 cm). SIZE 4 in (10 cm). SIZE 8 in (20 cm).
1
DIET Flake food, tablets, and small live foods. DIET Flake and freeze-dried foods, and small live foods. DIET Prefers live foods, but will take tablets.
WATER Temperature 68–75°F (20–24°C); hard WATER Temperature 68–79°F (20–26°C); soft WATER Temperature 72–75°F (22–24°C); soft to hard
(100–150 mg/l) and neutral (pH 7.0). (50–100 mg/l) and acidic (pH 6.5). (50–200 mg/l) and acidic to alkaline (pH 6.0–8.0).
TEMPERAMENT Social. TEMPERAMENT Placid. TEMPERAMENT Predatory.
The patterning of light spots on a dark background The Chocolate Frogmouth is distinguished from
resembles stars in the midnight sky. As their name the Squarehead Frogmouth (C. chaca) by its richer
suggests, these catfish are nocturnal in their habits. shade of brown, but both species share similar
They like to hide themselves away in holes in habits. Chocolate Frogmouths hide under or behind
bogwood, anchoring themselves in place using the rockwork during the day, becoming active and
rays of their dorsal and pelvic fins, which are more feeding at night. They are likely to hunt down
prominent in males. Midnight Catfish will come smaller fish, so it is unwise to house them with
up to the surface to feed and can be housed with such companions. A third species, C. burmensis, was
nonaggressive companions of similar size. discovered in 1988, but is little documented.
Raised dorsal fin The long body of this catfish is almost completely
transparent, allowing it to assume the color of its
surroundings. The only color on the fish itself is a
small reddish-violet patch behind the gills. The
barbels are long, as is the anal fin, which runs
virtually the length of the underparts. In
contrast, there is just a hint of a dorsal fin, with
the pelvic fins also being rudimentary. These active
Dark eye
catfish naturally inhabit fast-flowing streams.

US_116-117_catfish.indd 116 29/08/18 4:09 PM