Do many people keep Electric Catfish?

[Pirranha]

I saw Malapterurus electricus in a pet store awhile ago and wondered how common they are.
I dont see many of them online for sale, I was under the impression they were not that uncommon.

 

[thefredpit]

Here in texas they are illegal

 

[Charney]

I have malapterurus microstoma and paradoxoglanis parvus. electricus is the most common of the ecats. They typically aren't too hard to find.

 

[GiantFishKeeper101]

Not an active cat and they sting. It looks like a piebald sausage looking clarias but with superpower. But it depends on where you're from, here in Malaysia they are quite rarely sold. So it is rare here.

 

[moe214]

My Lfs gets them fairly often. Depends on what species your looking for I'd say.

 

[krichardson]

Not an active cat and they sting. It looks like a piebald sausage looking clarias but with superpower.

Good description,I had a little one years ago when I was just starting out in the hobby.I don't recall seeing any in the shops during my visits....but then,I haven't exactly been on the lookout for them.

 

[Boomer1224]

they are very interesting fish to keep

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

They are offered for sale every now and then. I'd not call this fish rare but definitely not common.

The sad part appears to be that for the number sold, we see exceedingly few ones raised to an adult size (most of the 19 species in the genus, including the most common electricus, grow to 2"-3'+).

Over the last 10 years, I think I came across less than half a dozen of keepers with an e-cat of 1' or larger. I too was one of those who lost his ecat at around 6"-8" size upon our move from NY to FL. Many appear to report sudden and unexplained deaths of them, which may or may not have to do with their bio-battery organ failure. The battery takes up most of their abdominal cavity.

https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/posts/7606614

https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/posts/7605455

https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/posts/6894994

https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/posts/6372218

 

[CLauf]

I have malapterurus microstoma and paradoxoglanis parvus. electricus is the most common of the ecats. They typically aren't too hard to find.
https://www.planetcatfish.com/malapterurus_microstoma

Were yours sold as just 'Electric Catfish' and you got IDs from there, or were they labelled as such? I've had a difficult time finding an identification key for this family that is terribly reliable and it's stopped me from buying several in the past, as I only have room for some of the smaller members of the family.

 

[tlindsey]

Would you do this?https://www.aquascapeonline.com/prodView.asp?idproduct=273&item=Electric Catfish 10