All fish / Aspredinidae

Banjo Catfish

Bunocephalus coracoideus

Also known as banjo cat, guitarrita catfish, frying pan catfish, two-coloured banjo catfish, bicolor banjo catfish, dysichthys coracoideus, banjo catfish bunocephalus, バンジョーキャット, lele banjo, 琵琶鼠, 吉他鼠

A flattened, rough-skinned catfish with a wide head and slim tail, giving it the shape of a banjo, and mottled brown colouring that looks just like a dead leaf. People keep it for its odd look and because it is hardy and peaceful. It spends the day buried in sand or leaf litter and becomes active at night.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

12 cm

Temperature

20 to 27 °C

pH

5.8 to 7.8

Smallest tank

80 litres

Keep as

Alone or in a small group; several can be kept together

Diet

Carnivore: sinking pellets, bloodworm, blackworm, brine shrimp and other meaty frozen foods fed after lights out

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

8 to 12 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Amazon basin and Río de la Plata basin: Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina

Breeding

Has been bred in captivity, with pairs scattering several thousand eggs over the substrate or in a shallow pit at night, often after a large cool water change. It happens only now and then in home tanks, and the fry need very small live foods.

Good to know

Give it soft sand and leaf litter for burrowing, and keep tankmates large enough not to fit in its mouth. Several similar Bunocephalus species are sold under the same name.