The name of Banjo catfish is in reference to their body shape. Their head is fairly flat in appearance and the tail fin is narrow. It somewhat resembles the look of a banjo.
The natural habitat for Banjo catfish are the major rivers in South America, such as the Orinoco and Amazon. They are a member of the Aspredinidae family and the smaller species can be kept in an aquarium. Most Banjo catfish reach a size of no greater than eight inches, but there are a couple of species that grow a bit bigger.
Nocturnal Habits of Banjo Catfish
Banjo catfish are nocturnal and rarely make any type of movement in the daylight hours. They like to nestle in substrate and spring into action after dark. Many aquarium owners are fooled into thinking the fish are dead. The minute an owner tries to scoop the fish with a net, they will suddenly swim away.
In an aquarium, the best way to see Banjo catfish in action is to wait for an hour after shutting off the lights. Then shine a low-powered flashlight into the tank and the Banjo catfish will be actively swimming. Too bright of a light will send them back into hiding at the bottom of the tank. Another good way to watch Banjo catfish in the darkness is to install a red light fixture.
Aquarium Requirements for Banjo Catfish
Banjo catfish do well in a tank on their own or with other fish. They prefer the company of other Banjo catfish because in the wild, they travel in packs for self-protection.
They are able to adapt quickly to most aquarium water conditions and share the same water requirements as most South American tropical fish. The water should have a PH of 7 and the hardness should only be slight. The ideal aquarium temperature should range from 68 – 77 degrees Fahrenheit.
Substrate must be used in an aquarium with Banjo catfish because they like to burrow at the bottom of the tank during the day. The substrate has to be soft and sandy. Coarse gravel or sand that is not finely-ground will damage the whiskers on a Banjo catfish.
Banjo catfish are not picky eaters and thrive on most foods such as krill, tubifex worms, and sinking pellets. Like most catfish, they can be fed vegetables like lettuce and zucchini. Because Banjo catfish are nocturnal, it’s best to feed them after the aquarium lights have been turned off. The food also serves as a signal to wake up.
In a community tank, the only fish that may be in danger of Banjo catfish are newborn livebearers such as guppies, mollies, and swordfish.
Breeding Banjo Catfish
In order to breed Banjo catfish, the aquarium should have a cave made out of rocks and placed on the sandy substrate. The female can lay up to 5000 eggs in multiple spawns but not all eggs will hatch. The fry can be fed tubifex worms.
If rock caves are not possible, use some plants and the Banjo catfish will hide their eggs underneath leaves they remove from the plant.
Banjo catfish make a growling noise when taken out of water, but it isn’t a noise made by their mouths. The sound is produced when they move their pectoral fin spines back and forth.
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