3
2
1
Home Please visit Amazonas Magazine proud sponsors of PlanetCatfish.com
  |  Home  | |  CotM  | |  Cat-eLog  | |  Shane's World  | |  Forum  | |  Books  | |  Cool  | |  Search  | |  Help!  |
Quick find:
Convert Length, Temperature or Volume

Jump to next sectionCat-eLog > Malapteruridae > Malapterurus

Jump to next section Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name Malapterurus electricus  (Gmelin, 1789)     
Common Name(s) Electric Catfish
Type Locality Rosetta, branch of the Nile R.
Synonym(s) Silurus electricus
Pronunciation mah lah TERR oo russ - ell eck trick uss
Etymology Malapterurus: From the Greek malakos, meaning soft, pteron, meaning fin and oura, meaning tail; presumably in reference to the adipose fin, which appears all the more prominent in the absence of the rayed dorsal fin. 
Jump to next section Species Information
Size 900mm (35.4") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Sexing Males are more slender.
Jump to next section Habitat Information
Distribution Central Africa North of the River Zambezi - Found in the Nile, Niger, Volta and Lakes Chad & Tanganyika
African Waters Show it on a map , Nile (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there)
African Waters Show it on a map , Nigeria Rivers, Niger (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there)
African Waters Show it on a map , Volta (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there)
African Waters Show it on a map , Western Rift Valley Lakes, Tanganyika Show it on a map  (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there)
African Waters Show it on a map , Chad Show it on a map  (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there)
pH 6.5 - 8.2
Temperature 23.0-30.0°C or 73.4-86°F (Show others within this range)
Jump to next section Husbandry Information
Feeding Live fish, earthworms (bloodworm for smaller fish), chopped meat or seafood. Care must be taken not to overfeed as this fishes is a real glutton.
Furniture A dimly lit tank with a suitably sized retreat - appears to prefer stone over wood.
Compatibility A loner, adult fish must be kept alone.
Suggested Tankmates None, for reasons that should be obvious!
Breeding Unknown although it is reported that (a) the fish spawn in burrows and (b) that they may be mouthbrooders.
Jump to next section Further Information
References Systema Naturae Linnév. 1 (pt 3) - pp1354
Registered Keepers (1) arapaima, (2) Lornek8, (3) Silurus, (4) JAYcarreon, (5) Attu, (6) amazonfishman, who also notes: "This specie was kept successfully with 3 synodontis multipunctatus and 2 flavitaeniatus for 6+ months. I believe the synodontis are immune to the e-cats discharge. ", (7) Plunt, (8) Dinyar, (9) Mike C, (10) Djthomas, (11) Viktor Jarikov, who also notes: "Named Plumpy. Fun to watch, though comes out only during feeding. Eats all. Elusive. Gentle.", (12) djechoskittykat, (13) Stackdeck, (14) Yellowpieslinger, (15) cbudz, (16) arapaimag (k: 3).

Click on a username above to see all that persons registered catfish species. You can also view all "my cats" data for this species.

Add this species to your My Cats species list Add this species to your "my cats" page.
Breeding Reports None.
More Resources Article - CotM > 2000 > May
Search Planet Catfish - Search Planet Catfish for more on Malapterurus electricus
Link - BBcode (for use in linking to this page from forum posts)
Look up AquaticRepublic.com - Look up Malapterurus electricus on AquaticRepublic.com
Look up Fishbase - Look up Malapterurus electricus on Fishbase, I.T.I.S. or ispecies search.
Link - URL (for use in linking to the species from anywhere on the web)
Hits 19243 hits.
Last Update 2005 Dec 11 00:00 (species record created: 2001 Apr 20 00:00)

Who is online

Registered users: Bing [Bot], Google [Bot], PlecoCrazy

 

© 1996 - 2012 PlanetCatfish.com, part of the Aquatic Republic Network group of websites. All Rights Reserved. By accessing this site you agree to our Terms and Conditions of Use.