Liver Catfish (Heteropneustes fossilis)
From The Aquarium Wiki
Liver Catfish
Liver Catfish
Heteropneustes fossilis
284 Litres (75 US G.)
48.3-50.8cm (19-20 ")
Freshwater
6.0 - 8.0
21 -25 °C (69.8-77°F)
6-16 °d
1:1 M:F
5-8 years
Family
Heteropneustidae
Contents
Additional names
- Liver Catfish, Stinging Catfish, Fossil Catfish
Origin
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This section requires expansion with: Location where this animal is found in the wild. |
Sexing
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This section requires expansion with: Methods for differentiating male and females. |
Tank compatibility
- Apart from giving it the utmost respect when handling, it does very well in a larger aquarium, and you can either keep it alone with other inhabitants that are too big for its mouth (large Barbs, Cichlids etc.) or in a group situation if you would like the challenge of breeding them.
Diet
- Will eat almost anything such as tablet and pellet foods. Will also much appreciate some live foods such as garden worms and other wormlike food. Frozen bloodworm is another good bet.
Feeding regime
- Experiment with feeding to find the right balance.
Environment Specifics
- A sand substrate is best with hiding places of rock and cave work and making sure that it has plenty of swimming space, as they do like to cruise the tank during the night hours. Keep your regular water changes up with good filtration as they are a greedy species, and can make a mess of your aquarium if good husbandry is not adhered to.
Behaviour
- Peaceful towards larger robust fish but will eat smaller fish.
Identification
- The body is elongate and compressed with a rounded abdomen. Four pairs of barbels, one pair = maxillary; one pair = nasal; two pair = mandibular. Rayed fin short with 6-7 rays. Anal fin long with 60-79 rays. Ventral fins 6 rays. Two elongate pulmary sacs that run backwards from the gill through the muscles in the back. Uniform grey-brown to olive-brown. Two narrow, pale to yellowish, longitudinal bands and numerous black spots on the flanks. Fins often fawn. Anal fin occasionally with dark marbling. Eye yellow.
Pictures
External links
- Fishbase (Mirrors:
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