 Cat-eLog Data Sheet |
| Scientific Name |
Bunocephalus coracoideus (Cope, 1878)
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| Common Name(s) |
Banjo Catfish, Guitarrita
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| Type Locality |
Nauta, Peru
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| Synonym(s) |
Bunocephalus bicolor, Dysichthys bicolor, D. coracoideus
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| Pronunciation |
boon oh SEFF ah luss
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| Etymology |
Bunocephalus: From the Greek bounos, meaning hill and kephale, meaning head; in reference to the bumps on the head of the fish, which is particularly marked in some species.
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| Species Information |
| Size |
Show near, nearer or same sized spp.
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| Identification |
The most commonly encountered Banjo Catfish for sale.
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| Sexing |
Mature females are larger and deeper bodied than males.
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| Habitat Information |
| Distribution |
South America: Amazon Basin
Amazon (click on these areas to find other species found there)
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| pH |
5.8 - 7.8
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| Temperature |
20.0-27.0°C or 68-80.6°F (Show others)
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| Other Parameters |
Hardness between 2 and 20°dGH.
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| Husbandry Information |
| Feeding |
Most prepared food that finds its way to the substrate, bloodworm and sinking catfish pellets are best.
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| Furniture |
Preferably river sand although the fish is equally happy under a flat rock elevated about ½ an inch above the substrate. In nature the fish can be found buried, sometimes several inches deep, in the leaf litter commonly found at the bottom of forest streams.
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| Compatibility |
Peaceful. Can be kept singly or in groups given adequate refuge for each individual. Young fish like to hide vertically in bushy plants. Older fish will burrow in sand or fine, rounded gravel as well as under stones or bogwood.
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| Suggested Tankmates |
Any community fish.
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| Breeding |
Adult fish are mature at 4½'', a deep tank is not necessary. Spawning occurs at night. Several batches of eggs are serially deposited in an egg-scattering fashion and should be removed to a secure net or container. These hatch within 3 days. Another report suggests that over 4000-5000 eggs are laid in several spawnings of a night and that the fish spawn in groups, although the ratio of males to females required is not clear. The fry should be fed small live foods, and then as they grow tubifex worms and eventually catfish tablets.
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| Further Information |
