Page 119 - Encyclopedia of Aquarium and Pond Fish, 3rd Edition

CATFISH 117

Bunocephalus coracoideus Pareutropius debauwi
PUTTING OUT FEELERS
Banjo Catfish African Glass Catfish
The different shapes and sizes of the
sensory barbels surrounding the mouths of ORIGINS South America, occurring in the Amazon basin, ORIGINS West Africa, occurring in the Congo and also
catfish provide an insight into their differing extending to the vicinity of La Plata. in Gabon.
lifestyles. Often likened to feelers, barbels SIZE 6 in (15 cm). SIZE 3 in (7.5 cm).
give catfish additional sensory information DIET Pellets, tablets, and sinking live food. DIET Small live foods, fresh or freeze-dried, plus flake.
about their environment. Active predatory WATER Temperature 70–79°F (21–26°C); soft to hard WATER Temperature 72–79°F (22–26°C); soft to hard
catfish hunt by sweeping long barbels from (50–200 mg/l) and acidic to alkaline (pH 6.0–7.8). (50–150 mg/l) and acidic to near neutral (pH 6.5–7.2).
side to side as they swim, which helps them TEMPERAMENT Placid and sedentary. TEMPERAMENT Very placid and social.
to detect and home in on potential prey. The
longest barbels are seen in nocturnal species, These fish should be kept in small groups to
or species that hunt in turbid waters where ensure the presence of at least one pair, because
visibility is restricted. In contrast, more it is difficult to distinguish the sexes until females
sedentary or vegetarian catfish have very swell with eggs. Ideally, two males should be
much shorter barbels, which act as a sensory housed in the breeding tank with a single female.
supplement to the eyes. Typically, she will lay up to 100 white eggs in the
morning, after which the fish should be returned
to the main aquarium. The catfish fry will hatch
within three days, and are easy to rear on brine
shrimp. Adults will take insect larvae very readily,
This catfish rarely strays far from the substrate especially bloodworm.
and will often try to conceal itself by burrowing Central black body stripe
in the gravel in the base of the aquarium, just as it
would on riverbeds in the wild. The inclusion of
shriveled oak leaves that have been previously
soaked will provide extra camouflage. Pairs of
these fish can breed in aquaria. The female lays
up to 5,000 eggs in a pit; the male guards the Relatively
eggs until they hatch. transparent body

Ariopsis seemanni Farlowella acus
Black-Fin Shark Catfish The fins on the underside of the body are edged Whiptail Catfish
with white. Although primarily a freshwater
ORIGINS Occurs in rivers and estuaries on the Pacific species, the Black-Fin Shark sometimes enters ORIGINS South America, occurring in southern
coast, from North America to Colombia and Peru. brackish waters in river estuaries. In an aquarium tributaries of the Amazon, in the vicinity of La Plata.
SIZE 13 in (33 cm). setting, especially at first, the addition of a small SIZE 6 in (15 cm).
DIET Thawed and fresh live foods, plus prepared foods. quantity of sea salt (about a level teaspoon per DIET Mainly vegetarian, including vegetable flake.
WATER Temperature 72–82°F (22–28°C); soft to hard gallon/ 4.5 liters) to the water is recommended. WATER Temperature 75–79°F (24–26°C); soft
(50–300 mg/l) and neutral (pH 7.0). As the fish grow older, their characteristic coloring (50–100 mg/l) and acidic to neutral (pH 6.0–7.0).
TEMPERAMENT Not to be trusted with smaller tankmates. fades. Plenty of open space for swimming, plus a TEMPERAMENT Very inactive.
strong filter current, are essential features of their
The combination of the streamlined body shape aquarium. These catfish are mouth-brooders, with The slender, brown body of this catfish makes it
and the large dorsal fin explains why this species the male carrying out this task. easy to confuse with a twig. Mature males can be
is known as the Black-Fin Shark Catfish. recognized by bristles on their snouts. About a day
before spawning occurs, the female develops an
egg-laying tube called an ovipositor. She lays a
clutch of up to 60 adhesive eggs, typically on
rocks. The eggs are guarded,
usually by the male, until
the young emerge.

Caudal fin has
short extensions
Bony scutes
on body

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