Banjo Catfish

Banjo Catfish, a peaceful fish that burrows into the substrate and comes out at night.  They are hardy and peaceful buy may eat small fish when they are sleeping. They require ample hiding places, particularly driftwood which mimics their natural environment.  Adult size: upto 15 cm, for beginning to advanced aquarists.  Min tank size 100 litres.

The Banjo Catfish (Bunocephalus coracoideus) is from the Amazon River basin where it typically inhabits creeks, lakes, ponds, and rainforest streams. Here these secretive catfish will be found on (or buried in) the silty substrate, hiding motionless underneath dense leaf litter and fallen branches. These sedentary bottom-dwellers are best kept in a large, mature aquarium and are unfussy with regards to water chemistry providing extremes are avoided.

Behaviour

These fish will usually remain partially buried during daylight hours,  This fish will bury itself in the substrate, frequently disappearing completely from sight. They can uproot plants so it is best to plant robust ones if any.

Tank Conditions

Provide a soft sand substrate with plenty of shady hiding places amongst driftwood and rocky caves. As these fish prefer dim lighting, open expanses of sand in brightly lit tanks should be shaded with large, broad-leaved plants. These fish will usually remain partially buried during daylight hours, and the addition of dried leaf litter would further help to emulate the natural environment. However, be sure the leaves are non-toxic; Dried Indian Almond leaves are ideal and are readily available. The addition of some form of blue moon lighting to the aquarium – which switches on just before the main lights go out – will allow you to spend time observing them under their preferred subdued illumination.

Prefers dim light. Brighter lighting can be diffused with floating or broad-leaved plants.

Compatibility

Banjo Catfish are peaceful towards their own kind and should be kept in groups. Tankmates should be of similar size and disposition, and species such as Corydoras, hatchetfish, pencilfish, and tetras swimming around in open water may even encourage these reclusive catfish out into view a bit more.  Try to stay with the larger tetras as they may eat small fish such as Neon Tetras or fry (when they are sleeping), as well as small shrimp.

Observe carefully to ensure that none of the other fish are continually nipping away at the inactive, partially buried catfish.

Feeding

Offer a variety of small, meaty frozen foods such as bloodworm, white mosquito larvae, black mosquito larvae, vitamin-enriched brineshrimp, daphnia etc. as well as different sinking catfish pellets/granules. If there are other fish present in the tank, make sure your Banjo Catfish are not missing out, target feeding with frozen foods near their resting places using a baster if necessary, and offering some foods after lights out.

Feed Daily – Because they are nocturnal, they need to be fed in the evening after lights are out.

Care

Good filtration along with frequent partial water changes are essential for keeping nitrogenous wastes to a minimum; however, the actual water flow within the aquarium should not be excessive. Do water changes of 10 – 15% every other week.

See Fish Disease Diagnosis and Treatment at Rebel Pets for help with diagnosing and treating diseases.