Edit Asterophysus batrachus
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Name
Scientific name
Asterophysus batrachus
Described by
Authority Kner, Year 1858
Family
Auchenipteridae
Common names
Gulper Catfish
Photograph credits
All 5 credited
Summary
The gulper catfish, Asterophysus batrachus, is a predatory auchenipterid catfish from the rio Negro in Brazil and the Orinoco in Venezuela.…
Size and aquarium
Maximum size
250mm, standard length
Aquarium size
Minimum length 150 cm, Minimum depth 60 cm
Water
Water conditions
Temperature 22–28°C, pH 5–7
Hardness
1–8dGH
Conductivity
Not recorded
Behaviour
Temperament
Species tank only
Social needs
Solitary or specimen
Community suitability
Not for a community
Where it lives
Countries, regions, rivers and lakes
Brazil, Venezuela, Negro, Orinoco
Writing
Etymology
Asterophysus: from the Ancient Greek ἀστήρ (aster), meaning 'a celestial body', and physa, meaning 'bladder, bellows', in reference to the batrachus: from the …
Distribution
Has been recorded throughout the rio Negro system in Brazil and Orinoco drainage in Venezuela. Type locality is given simply as 'Marabitanos, Brazil', presumab…
Habitat
Inhabits blackwater tributaries where it tends to hunt in shallow water and is typically active at night.
Aquarium size
An aquarium with minimum base dimensions of 150 ∗ 60 cm cm is recommended.
Maintenance
Ideally a soft, sandy substrate should be used though it is not essential. Additional furnishings are as much a case of personal taste as anything else but the…
Water conditions
Not written yet
Diet
An obligate predator by nature, but captive specimens readily accept strips of white fish, whole shrimp, earthworms, and similar once they are recognised as fo…
Behaviour and compatibility
Capable of consuming fishes almost twice as large as itself and thus not recommended for the community aquarium.
Sexual dimorphism
In sexually-active males the unbranched and first few branched anal-fin rays become thickened, elongate and fused together, forming a structural support for th…
Reproduction
Unreported.
Notes
This species is also referred to as 'ogre catfish'.
References
References
3 on this profile