Channallabes apus • Clariidae • Cat-eLog

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Channallabes apus** (Günther, 1873)
Common Name(s)	Eel Catfish
Type Locality	Interior of Ambriz, Angola.
Synonym(s)	Gymnallabes apus
Pronunciation	cha nal ah bez - ah pess
Etymology	Channallabes: From the Greek, channe, meaning anchovy and allabes, the name of a Nilotic fish (a kind of lamprey); in reference to the shape of the fish. From the Greek prefix a- meaning without and pous, meaning foot; in reference to the lack of pelvic fins.
Species Information
Size	300mm (11.8") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	Distinguished by the extremely elongate body, reduced cranial shield, confluent median fins, small eyes and absence of pelvic fins.
Sexing	The genital papilla, which is to the right of the anus as you look at the fish with its head to the left, is elongated and pointed in males while it is round and relatively larger (and larger than the anus) in females. In ventral view especially, females are much broader in the body than males of equal age and rearing practices. It may be hard to see with the naked eye.
General Remarks	Recent research has documented this species' ability to feed terrestially (videos above). The catfish's neck is especially flexible, with specialized vertebrae that allow it to hold its head up out of the water without using fins. The fish's diet provided the scientists with the first clue to its remarkable behaviour - it mainly eats beetles which are found on land. The researchers speculate that a similar feeding strategy could have been used by the first vertebrates to emerge from the oceans. The fish is known to burrow into the substrate and has been caught by hook and line in waterlogged areas adjacent to rivers and swamps simply by digging a hole and fishing in the resulting pool.
Habitat Information
Distribution	Central Africa: Angola to Congo River Basin. African Waters, Congo (click on these areas to find other species found there) (Click the map-icon to show/hide map of species distribution)
pH	5.8 - 7.0
Temperature	22.0-27.0°C or 71.6-80.6°F (Show others within this range)
Other Parameters	Sensitive to bad water; this species appears particularly susceptible to bacterial / parasitic infections.
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Will take all manner of pelleted food, as well as frozen/live food (the latter being preferred).
Furniture	Provide plenty of driftwood for the fish to hide. Ensure that the tank cover is tight-fitting/weighed down, they are capable of climbing out.
Compatibility	A peaceful fish that is best suited for the West African biotope tank. Ideal tankmates include mid-sized African barbs, tetras, and cichlids.
Breeding	Not reported.
Further Information
References	Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (Ser. 4)v. 12 (no. 68) - pp142
Registered Keepers	(1) JAYcarreon, (2) Devangel (p: 2), (3) The-Wolf (p: 2), (4) RobDoran1, (5) haxjester (p: 2), (6) malawiman1, (7) scotty105, (8) jippo (k: 5). 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	None.
Articles	- CotM 2010 July
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Last Update	2006 Apr 22 00:00 (species record created: 2001 Jun 09 00:00)

Cat-eLog Data Sheet

Scientific Name

Channallabes apus (Günther, 1873)

Common Name(s)

Eel Catfish

Type Locality

Interior of Ambriz, Angola.

Synonym(s)

Gymnallabes apus

Pronunciation

cha nal ah bez - ah pess

Etymology

Channallabes: From the Greek, channe, meaning anchovy and allabes, the name of a Nilotic fish (a kind of lamprey); in reference to the shape of the fish. From the Greek prefix a- meaning without and pous, meaning foot; in reference to the lack of pelvic fins.

Species Information

Size

300mm (11.8") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.

Identification

Distinguished by the extremely elongate body, reduced cranial shield, confluent median fins, small eyes and absence of pelvic fins.

Sexing

The genital papilla, which is to the right of the anus as you look at the fish with its head to the left, is elongated and pointed in males while it is round and relatively larger (and larger than the anus) in females. In ventral view especially, females are much broader in the body than males of equal age and rearing practices. It may be hard to see with the naked eye.

General Remarks

Recent research has documented this species' ability to feed terrestially (videos above). The catfish's neck is especially flexible, with specialized vertebrae that allow it to hold its head up out of the water without using fins. The fish's diet provided the scientists with the first clue to its remarkable behaviour - it mainly eats beetles which are found on land. The researchers speculate that a similar feeding strategy could have been used by the first vertebrates to emerge from the oceans.

The fish is known to burrow into the substrate and has been caught by hook and line in waterlogged areas adjacent to rivers and swamps simply by digging a hole and fishing in the resulting pool.

Habitat Information

Distribution

Central Africa: Angola to Congo River Basin.
African Waters, Congo (click on these areas to find other species found there)

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

5.8 - 7.0

Temperature

22.0-27.0°C or 71.6-80.6°F (Show others within this range)

Other Parameters

Sensitive to bad water; this species appears particularly susceptible to bacterial / parasitic infections.

Husbandry Information

Feeding

Will take all manner of pelleted food, as well as frozen/live food (the latter being preferred).

Furniture

Provide plenty of driftwood for the fish to hide. Ensure that the tank cover is tight-fitting/weighed down, they are capable of climbing out.

Compatibility

A peaceful fish that is best suited for the West African biotope tank. Ideal tankmates include mid-sized African barbs, tetras, and cichlids.

Breeding

Not reported.

Further Information

References

Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (Ser. 4)v. 12 (no. 68) - pp142

Registered Keepers

(1) JAYcarreon, (2) Devangel (p: 2), (3) The-Wolf (p: 2), (4) RobDoran1, (5) haxjester (p: 2), (6) malawiman1, (7) scotty105, (8) jippo (k: 5).

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

None.

Articles