All fish / Auchenipteridae

Gulper Catfish

Asterophysus batrachus

Also known as gulper catfish, gulping catfish, asterophysus, giant gulper catfish, アステロフィサス・バトラクス, 大嘴鲶

A broad, flat-headed driftwood catfish with a huge mouth and a dark mottled body, often with pale edges on the fins. It is kept by specialist catfish enthusiasts for its odd look and its remarkable ability to swallow prey as large as itself.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

22 cm

Temperature

24 to 30 °C

pH

5 to 7

Smallest tank

300 litres

Keep as

Keep singly

Diet

Carnivore: fish fillet, prawns, earthworms and large frozen foods; avoid feeder fish

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 15 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Upper Orinoco and Rio Negro basins (Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil)

Breeding

It has not been reliably bred in aquariums. Like other driftwood catfishes it is thought to use internal fertilisation, with the female laying eggs later.

Good to know

It can swallow fish its own size or bigger, so it should not share a tank with any other fish. It spends daylight hidden in caves or wood, so provide plenty of cover and a tight lid.