/malapteruridae/malapterurus/electricus/1.jpg "Malapterurus electricus(1) - Click to enlarge")
/malapteruridae/malapterurus/electricus/2.jpg "Malapterurus electricus(2) Albino - Click to enlarge")
/malapteruridae/malapterurus/electricus/3.jpg "Malapterurus electricus(3) - Click to enlarge")
/malapteruridae/malapterurus/electricus/4.jpg "Malapterurus electricus(4) Close-up of head - Click to enlarge")
/malapteruridae/malapterurus/electricus/5.jpg "Malapterurus electricus(5) Stamp - Click to enlarge")
/malapteruridae/malapterurus/electricus/6.jpg "Malapterurus electricus(6) - Click to enlarge")
/malapteruridae/malapterurus/electricus/7.jpg "Malapterurus electricus(7) - Click to enlarge")
/malapteruridae/malapterurus/electricus/8.jpg "Malapterurus electricus(8) Stamp - Click to enlarge")
/malapteruridae/malapterurus/electricus/9.jpg "Malapterurus electricus(9) Stamp - Click to enlarge")
/malapteruridae/malapterurus/electricus/10.jpg "Malapterurus electricus(10) Stamp - Click to enlarge")
/malapteruridae/malapterurus/electricus/11.jpg "Malapterurus electricus(11) Stamp - Click to enlarge")
/malapteruridae/malapterurus/electricus/12.jpg "Malapterurus electricus(12) Stamp - Click to enlarge")
/malapteruridae/malapterurus/electricus/13.jpg "Malapterurus electricus(13) Stamp - Click to enlarge")
/malapteruridae/malapterurus/electricus/14.jpg "Malapterurus electricus(14) Close-up of head - Click to enlarge")
/malapteruridae/malapterurus/electricus/15.jpg "Malapterurus electricus(15) Albino - close-up of head - Click to enlarge")
/malapteruridae/malapterurus/electricus/16.jpg "Malapterurus electricus(16) Juvenile - Click to enlarge")
 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. |
| Species Information | |
| Size | 900mm (35.4") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp. |
| Sexing | Males are more slender. |
| Habitat Information | |
| Distribution | Central Africa North of the River Zambezi - Found in the Nile, Niger, Volta and Lakes Chad & Tanganyika African Waters  , Nile (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there)African Waters , Nigeria Rivers, Niger (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there)African Waters , Volta (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there)African Waters , Western Rift Valley Lakes, Tanganyika (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there)African Waters , Chad (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) |
| 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. |
| 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" page. |
| Breeding Reports | None. |
| More Resources |
 - CotM  2000 May -
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| Hits | 19243 hits. |
| Last Update | 2005 Dec 11 00:00 (species record created: 2001 Apr 20 00:00) |
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