electric catfish
- Thread starter fishyboi
- Start date
I kept a smaller 1 for awhile,while they seem to be docile and lazy they can become really aggressive(especially if hungry)they are capable of killing any other fish kept in your tank.When cleaning your tank be very careful not to scare him or touch him as you will be shocked(believe me i know!!!)In my opinion they should be kept alone.They are very interesting fish but can be very boring.
Nothing like doing the research before getting a species, eh?
Check your pH since you're running high tannins from the driftwood. Ecats prefer things on the alkaline side. Drop some aragonite or holey rock in the tank. Also, be prepared to supply it live food for awhile. These cats can be hard to train onto frozen or prepared foods. Here's some info:
The Electric Catfish may look like a big sausage but you won't find anything else like it
by Mike McEwan
Sci Name: Malapterurus electricus
Family: Malapteruridae
Origin: West Africa
Max Size: 39"
pH: alkaline
Temp: 74-85 F.
Tank Size: 135 Gallons
Feeding: Carnivorous
The Electric Catfish is an oddball fish best suited to a large display tank. It has a cylindrical, gray-brown to pinkish body, with a few dark spots and blotches. The lips of the fish are thick, fleshy and are surrounded by six barbels. The pectoral fins have no spines, and it lacks a dorsal fin.
As its common name suggests, the Electric Catfish has the ability to shock and stun its enemies. The electric organ of the fish is present on the whole body, giving the fish the ability to efficiently shock its prey or larger predators. Each charge weakens the electric ability of the fish until it has adequate time to rest and "recharge".
Tank Setup
Malapterurus electricus is a nocturnal fish that likes to hide during the day, thus rocky formations should be present. Due to its adult size of up to three feet, it must be housed in a large aquarium. Electric Catfishes can be injured easily because of their lack of scales and bony plates. This may lead to the fish burning itself against a hot aquarium heater or sharp rocks, so care must be taken when housing the tank. This is an aggressive species that shouldn't be kept with any other fish, especially its own kind.
Feeding
Electric Catfish are carnivorous predators that have huge appetites. They will eat most anything, especially when fed at night. Favorite foods are anything meaty such as beef heart, earth worms, fish meat or shrimp.
Water Chemistry
Malapterurus electricus is a very hardy fish that can adapt to a variety of aquarium conditions. The pH can be kept anywhere from 7.0 to 8.2 and the temperature from 74-85 degrees F. Keep the water hard, around 20 dGH.
Breeding
Breeding attempts in captivity have been unsuccessful.
Check your pH since you're running high tannins from the driftwood. Ecats prefer things on the alkaline side. Drop some aragonite or holey rock in the tank. Also, be prepared to supply it live food for awhile. These cats can be hard to train onto frozen or prepared foods. Here's some info:
The Electric Catfish may look like a big sausage but you won't find anything else like it
by Mike McEwan
Sci Name: Malapterurus electricus
Family: Malapteruridae
Origin: West Africa
Max Size: 39"
pH: alkaline
Temp: 74-85 F.
Tank Size: 135 Gallons
Feeding: Carnivorous
The Electric Catfish is an oddball fish best suited to a large display tank. It has a cylindrical, gray-brown to pinkish body, with a few dark spots and blotches. The lips of the fish are thick, fleshy and are surrounded by six barbels. The pectoral fins have no spines, and it lacks a dorsal fin.
As its common name suggests, the Electric Catfish has the ability to shock and stun its enemies. The electric organ of the fish is present on the whole body, giving the fish the ability to efficiently shock its prey or larger predators. Each charge weakens the electric ability of the fish until it has adequate time to rest and "recharge".
Tank Setup
Malapterurus electricus is a nocturnal fish that likes to hide during the day, thus rocky formations should be present. Due to its adult size of up to three feet, it must be housed in a large aquarium. Electric Catfishes can be injured easily because of their lack of scales and bony plates. This may lead to the fish burning itself against a hot aquarium heater or sharp rocks, so care must be taken when housing the tank. This is an aggressive species that shouldn't be kept with any other fish, especially its own kind.
Feeding
Electric Catfish are carnivorous predators that have huge appetites. They will eat most anything, especially when fed at night. Favorite foods are anything meaty such as beef heart, earth worms, fish meat or shrimp.
Water Chemistry
Malapterurus electricus is a very hardy fish that can adapt to a variety of aquarium conditions. The pH can be kept anywhere from 7.0 to 8.2 and the temperature from 74-85 degrees F. Keep the water hard, around 20 dGH.
Breeding
Breeding attempts in captivity have been unsuccessful.
well my heater could go unpluged for days, filter crap out, they survive almost anything. My 8" one was full of personality!! He wasn't so much aggressive as he was preditory. what i mean is, large silver dollars and 5" blue goramis were finewith mine, although a 2" melanochromis auratus, one of the most aggresive african cichlids you can find, was considered a feeder, along with a 5" dojo loach. Some say they can not have any other tankmates, but like i said they are full of personality, so i bet it just varies. I trained mine to not only eat out of my hand, but to specificly recognise me and swim through rings i made with my fingers for food