Bunocephalus coracoideus • Aspredinidae • Cat-eLog

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Bunocephalus coracoideus** (Cope, 1878)
Common Name(s)	Banjo Catfish, Guitarrita
Type Locality	Nauta, Peru
Synonym(s)	Bunocephalus bicolor, Dysichthys bicolor, Dysichthys coracoideus
Pronunciation	boon oh SEFF ah luss
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.
Species Information
Size	150mm (5.9") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	The most commonly encountered Banjo Catfish for sale.
Sexing	Mature females are larger and deeper bodied than males.
Habitat Information
Distribution	South America: Amazon Basin Amazon (click on these areas to find other species found there) (Click the map-icon to show/hide map of species distribution)
pH	5.8 - 7.8
Temperature	20.0-27.0°C or 68-80.6°F (Show others within this range)
Other Parameters	Hardness between 2 and 20°dGH.
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Most prepared food that finds its way to the substrate, bloodworm and sinking catfish pellets are best.
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.
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.
Suggested Tankmates	Any community fish.
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.
Further Information
Registered Keepers	(1) daniel60, (2) bronzefry (k: 2), who also notes: "Shedding seems to occur monthly, for both fish and they shed at the same time. The female likes to build a "mound" of substrate in which to hide.", (3) suezbele, (4) Chrysichthys (k: 3), (5) Lornek8, (6) ivokilli, (7) Oliver D., (8) Silurus, (9) adimeatatime (k: 2), who also notes: "Neat fish, but stay hidden all of the time.", (10) Whiskerbreed, (11) brettwms75, who also notes: "You might forget you have them, so BECAREFUL when you gravel-vac not so deep and don't push to hard.", (12) CatBrat, (13) Tulio, (14) traumatic, (15) sherry44 (k: 6), (16) Freakdaddy (k: 2), (17) mzavori, (18) Redcatman, who also notes: "I live in a soft water area. The only water quality parameter measured regularly is pH which is kept between 6.5 and 7.0. Ammonia and nitrite are usually zero when I do occasionally measure it. Nitrate controlled by partial water changes every 2-3 weeks. The tank is filtered using an internal Eheim filter with sponge filter material. Other tank occupants are a group of juvenile Synodontis petricola, cherry barbs, and various danios.", (19) Brian W C (k: 2), who also notes: "Ignore's all fish except Pleco's.", (20) Igowoof, (21) amiidae, (22) Threefingers, who also notes: "Buries in the sand all day, except to compete with the other fish for algae wafers. Purchased as a 3" juvenile, and has been eating frozen krill/bloodworm/artemia as well as a selection of dry foods. Only very active at night, jetting around t", (23) Kjlossman, (24) Högö (k: 8), (25) Teelie, (26) whiteymoza, (27) titch2007 (k: 6), who also notes: "always been interested in this species, but still never really gave it a second thought!!! bought 4, hoping to add to collection soon!!! they'll be set up pretty much on their own, with intentions of trying to get them to breed!!! mine's are only 3 i", (28) irshprncsk, (29) mouseninja, (30) unkaface, (31) darkwolf29a (k: 3), (32) haxjester, (33) chillired, (34) joepleco (k: 2), who also notes: "Newest members to my tank. Always looks emaciated though...", (35) tezr (k: 8), (36) valkat, (37) weisel, (38) Scubaguy (k: 2), (39) photizo379, (40) joe.juice13, (41) ChileRelleno (k: 3), who also notes: "Mine seem to contradict the Cat-E-Log on their hiding habits. Mine when young stayed buried in sand, now as adults are mainly in plants and under low caves/overhangs that are shaded.", (42) aledk85, (43) AU Chief (k: 3), (44) LowCat, (45) MADRacing, (46) kubastanik, (47) JayC, (48) iam1ru12 (k: 3), (49) Martin S (p: 2, k: 3), (50) geekshow (p: 3, k: 3), (51) krzys (k: 3), (52) nyrak33333, (53) coppernite (k: 3), (54) Birger, (55) cory1, (56) Phoxinus (k: 7), (57) Nick44, (58) xander, (59) ali12345, (60) ahodge84 (p: 2, k: 7), (61) JJ74, (62) LRKeefer (k: 3), (63) bahid, (64) Flavia, (65) aurora (k: 4), (66) MatsP (p: 2, k: 3), who also notes: "Got another two when I found another shipment in Lynchford Aquatics (my regular LFS).", "Got two from my LFS. One was "early fatality". The other is doing fine. ", (67) fischkringli, (68) royaldragoness (k: 2), (69) The.Dark.One, (70) boogie, (71) Toad (k: 2), (72) nvcichlids (k: 17), (73) ProblEmZ (k: 5), who also notes: "5 in a 29g Community tank.", (74) GW_NL (k: 5), (75) theonetruepath (k: 2), (76) jippo (k: 6), (77) Minus (k: 3), (78) astinus, (79) ayrtoninst (k: 2), (80) jag64 (p: 2), (81) matt12, (82) LowClassCC, (83) bamboosticks (k: 2), (84) Back, who also notes: "One left of two from the start", (85) Timberwolf (k: 5), (86) shaunypoo, (87) Wallace (k: 4), (88) coelacanth, (89) ocnluv13 (k: 2), (90) NickHarris77, (91) Riv (k: 3), (92) TRD, who also notes: "Might be a male.", (93) theviper06 (k: 2), who also notes: "Blue & Grass", (94) adcc (p: 2), who also notes: "Another one is died at 1 october 2012", (95) bcmitchell, (96) NC24, (97) shivamotiram, (98) tiffanyjayne, (99) Donald (k: 6), (100) Brisch, (101) jabones, (102) atharrison21 (p: 2), (103) xXColtzFanXx (k: 4), (104) chad320 (p: 2, k: 3), (105) Harry94, (106) Quo, (107) Black_flys, (108) browny85, (109) cdc069, (110) elcucuu, (111) john_d, (112) Shawnc, (113) catfishkemp, (114) tropical (p: 2), (115) Ecrevince (k: 5), (116) Lilredbeaver, (117) markmoten, (118) L number Banana (k: 2), (119) Catfish freak, (120) dolgolev (k: 2), (121) vb75, (122) pel (k: 2), (123) transporter42, (124) slimrs, (125) indiCa, (126) jimlaroche83, (127) Woodza73 (k: 3), (128) wirikwiri, (129) merit, (130) mikemaes, who also notes: "I think t's a female, because she hides in the sand, only her mouth sticking out.", (131) andyC, (132) Microsab, (133) shoegazer, (134) linuxrulesusa (k: 2), (135) ScottishFish, (136) FerocactusLatispinus (k: 2), who also notes: "Stanley is rather lean and Checkers (pictured here) is very pale and dark in contrast! The cute little guys just love to use hydro-jet propulsion!", (137) amacintosh, (138) jac (k: 2), (139) RedLiz (k: 2), (140) Steff_ (k: 2), (141) bazzho, (142) uffe77, (143) p44236. Click on a username above to see all that persons registered catfish species. You can also view all "my cats" data for this species.
Breeding Reports	(1) nvcichlids (b: 46).
Articles	- CotM 1997 June
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Last Update	2006 Jun 24 00:00 (species record created: 2001 Apr 13 00:00)

Cat-eLog Data Sheet

Scientific Name

Bunocephalus coracoideus (Cope, 1878)

Common Name(s)

Banjo Catfish, Guitarrita

Type Locality

Nauta, Peru

Synonym(s)

Bunocephalus bicolor, Dysichthys bicolor, Dysichthys coracoideus

Pronunciation

boon oh SEFF ah luss

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.

Species Information

Size

150mm (5.9") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.

Identification

The most commonly encountered Banjo Catfish for sale.

Sexing

Mature females are larger and deeper bodied than males.

Habitat Information

Distribution

South America: Amazon Basin
Amazon (click on these areas to find other species found there)

(Click the map-icon to show/hide map of species distribution)

5.8 - 7.8

Temperature

20.0-27.0°C or 68-80.6°F (Show others within this range)

Other Parameters

Hardness between 2 and 20°dGH.

Husbandry Information

Feeding

Most prepared food that finds its way to the substrate, bloodworm and sinking catfish pellets are best.

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.

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.

Suggested Tankmates

Any community fish.

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.

Further Information

Registered Keepers

(1) daniel60, (2) bronzefry (k: 2), who also notes: "Shedding seems to occur monthly, for both fish and they shed at the same time. The female likes to build a "mound" of substrate in which to hide.", (3) suezbele, (4) Chrysichthys (k: 3), (5) Lornek8, (6) ivokilli, (7) Oliver D., (8) Silurus, (9) adimeatatime (k: 2), who also notes: "Neat fish, but stay hidden all of the time.", (10) Whiskerbreed, (11) brettwms75, who also notes: "You might forget you have them, so BECAREFUL when you gravel-vac not so deep and don't push to hard.", (12) CatBrat, (13) Tulio, (14) traumatic, (15) sherry44 (k: 6), (16) Freakdaddy (k: 2), (17) mzavori, (18) Redcatman, who also notes: "I live in a soft water area. The only water quality parameter measured regularly is pH which is kept between 6.5 and 7.0. Ammonia and nitrite are usually zero when I do occasionally measure it. Nitrate controlled by partial water changes every 2-3 weeks. The tank is filtered using an internal Eheim filter with sponge filter material. Other tank occupants are a group of juvenile Synodontis petricola, cherry barbs, and various danios.", (19) Brian W C (k: 2), who also notes: "Ignore's all fish except Pleco's.", (20) Igowoof, (21) amiidae, (22) Threefingers, who also notes: "Buries in the sand all day, except to compete with the other fish for algae wafers. Purchased as a 3" juvenile, and has been eating frozen krill/bloodworm/artemia as well as a selection of dry foods. Only very active at night, jetting around t", (23) Kjlossman, (24) Högö (k: 8), (25) Teelie, (26) whiteymoza, (27) titch2007 (k: 6), who also notes: "always been interested in this species, but still never really gave it a second thought!!! bought 4, hoping to add to collection soon!!! they'll be set up pretty much on their own, with intentions of trying to get them to breed!!! mine's are only 3 i", (28) irshprncsk, (29) mouseninja, (30) unkaface, (31) darkwolf29a (k: 3), (32) haxjester, (33) chillired, (34) joepleco (k: 2), who also notes: "Newest members to my tank. Always looks emaciated though...", (35) tezr (k: 8), (36) valkat, (37) weisel, (38) Scubaguy (k: 2), (39) photizo379, (40) joe.juice13, (41) ChileRelleno (k: 3), who also notes: "Mine seem to contradict the Cat-E-Log on their hiding habits. Mine when young stayed buried in sand, now as adults are mainly in plants and under low caves/overhangs that are shaded.", (42) aledk85, (43) AU Chief (k: 3), (44) LowCat, (45) MADRacing, (46) kubastanik, (47) JayC, (48) iam1ru12 (k: 3), (49) Martin S (p: 2, k: 3), (50) geekshow (p: 3, k: 3), (51) krzys (k: 3), (52) nyrak33333, (53) coppernite (k: 3), (54) Birger, (55) cory1, (56) Phoxinus (k: 7), (57) Nick44, (58) xander, (59) ali12345, (60) ahodge84 (p: 2, k: 7), (61) JJ74, (62) LRKeefer (k: 3), (63) bahid, (64) Flavia, (65) aurora (k: 4), (66) MatsP (p: 2, k: 3), who also notes: "Got another two when I found another shipment in Lynchford Aquatics (my regular LFS).", "Got two from my LFS. One was "early fatality". The other is doing fine. ", (67) fischkringli, (68) royaldragoness (k: 2), (69) The.Dark.One, (70) boogie, (71) Toad (k: 2), (72) nvcichlids (k: 17), (73) ProblEmZ (k: 5), who also notes: "5 in a 29g Community tank.", (74) GW_NL (k: 5), (75) theonetruepath (k: 2), (76) jippo (k: 6), (77) Minus (k: 3), (78) astinus, (79) ayrtoninst (k: 2), (80) jag64 (p: 2), (81) matt12, (82) LowClassCC, (83) bamboosticks (k: 2), (84) Back, who also notes: "One left of two from the start", (85) Timberwolf (k: 5), (86) shaunypoo, (87) Wallace (k: 4), (88) coelacanth, (89) ocnluv13 (k: 2), (90) NickHarris77, (91) Riv (k: 3), (92) TRD, who also notes: "Might be a male.", (93) theviper06 (k: 2), who also notes: "Blue & Grass", (94) adcc (p: 2), who also notes: "Another one is died at 1 october 2012", (95) bcmitchell, (96) NC24, (97) shivamotiram, (98) tiffanyjayne, (99) Donald (k: 6), (100) Brisch, (101) jabones, (102) atharrison21 (p: 2), (103) xXColtzFanXx (k: 4), (104) chad320 (p: 2, k: 3), (105) Harry94, (106) Quo, (107) Black_flys, (108) browny85, (109) cdc069, (110) elcucuu, (111) john_d, (112) Shawnc, (113) catfishkemp, (114) tropical (p: 2), (115) Ecrevince (k: 5), (116) Lilredbeaver, (117) markmoten, (118) L number Banana (k: 2), (119) Catfish freak, (120) dolgolev (k: 2), (121) vb75, (122) pel (k: 2), (123) transporter42, (124) slimrs, (125) indiCa, (126) jimlaroche83, (127) Woodza73 (k: 3), (128) wirikwiri, (129) merit, (130) mikemaes, who also notes: "I think t's a female, because she hides in the sand, only her mouth sticking out.", (131) andyC, (132) Microsab, (133) shoegazer, (134) linuxrulesusa (k: 2), (135) ScottishFish, (136) FerocactusLatispinus (k: 2), who also notes: "Stanley is rather lean and Checkers (pictured here) is very pale and dark in contrast! The cute little guys just love to use hydro-jet propulsion!", (137) amacintosh, (138) jac (k: 2), (139) RedLiz (k: 2), (140) Steff_ (k: 2), (141) bazzho, (142) uffe77, (143) p44236.

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

Breeding Reports

(1) nvcichlids (b: 46).

Articles