Article © Julian Dignall, uploaded June 01, 1997.

Looking for something unusual? This is not a pretty fish, however its leaf-like camouflage gives it an appearance appealing to aquarists looking for something a bit out of the ordinary. Aside from its rugged skin (which, incidentally, it periodically sheds like a snake), the fish has tiny eyes and a very odd method of swimming. Banjo catfish expel water through their gills, making their swimming movement (I.E. irregular spurting bursts) somewhat comical. This swimming however is a rare sight as these fish spend 99% of their time inactive to the point of looking dead.

Feeding usually initiates some action in Banjos, however you almost have to drop the food right on the fish for it to react. Feeding after lights out will ensure that these fish get their share of food.

I have never had any problems with Banjo Catfish either through illness oraggression towards their tankmates or fellow banjos. If you find their craggy appearance interesting then these fish are ideal as a community tank curio.

Copyright information for the images used in this article can be found on the species' full Cat-eLog page.

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	Bunocephalus coracoideus  (Cope, 1874)
Common Names	Banjo Catfish Banjo Cat, Guitarrita, Tofarvet Stegepandemalle (Denmark), Zweifarbiger Bratpfannenwels (Germany)
Type Locality	Nauta, Peru
Type Locality Notes	Type locality inferred from location of Nauta (referenced 2021).
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.
Articles	- Shane's World Reproduction Breeding the banjo catfish, Bunocephalus coracoideus
Species Information
Size	110mm or 4.3" 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 River basin. Amazon (click on these areas to find other species found there) Log in to view data on a map.
IUCN Red List Category	Least Concern, range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2020.
pH	5.8 - 7.8
Temperature	20.0-27.0°C or 68-80.6°F (Show species 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. User data.
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.
Breeding Reports	There are 3 breeding reports, read them all here.
Further Information
Reference	Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia v. 26, pp 133
Registered Keepers	There are 242 registered keepers, view all "my cats" data.
Wishlists	Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list. There are 6 wishes to keep this species, see who wants what.
Spotters	Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars! There are 50 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
Forum BBCode
	Search for B. coracoideus
	Look up B. coracoideus on AquaticRepublic.com
	Look up B. coracoideus on Fishbase
	Look up B. coracoideus on Encyclopedia of Life
	Look up B. coracoideus on Global Biodiversity Information Facility
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Last Update	2021 May 27 09:05 (species record created: 1997 Jun 01 11:22)

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