Richard Broadbent introduces another fine African Catfish of the month - a slippery customer with bags of eel appeal!

The family Clariidae is nowhere near as popular as some other families of catfish, even those from Africa, but this species is a relatively problem free denizen for tanks of 36”and above. It is relatively unfussy as far as water conditions, accepts a wide range of foods, mixes well with other tank mates and has interesting habits.

It is available from time to time at a reasonable price and because of its appearance is not confused with much else: the exceptions being other Channallabes species and Gymnallabes (see CotM July 2005) which are very seldom imported. The difference from Gymnallabes being the absence of pectoral and ventral fins in Channallabes. It is a long slender eel-like species brown or brownish-grey in colour on the dorsal surface, lighter underneath which gets to a foot long.

In the wild this species is found in the Congo river system and eats a lot of small terrestrial insects. Well, so do a lot of other catfish but the unique habit here is that it leaves the water to hunt and feed on land, rather than simply feeding on insects that fall into the water. This is not witnessed in aquaria unless specific set-ups are created with some sort of terrestrial area but one thing to consider is having a completely closed tight fitting lid to prevent this catfish going “walkies” like its larger, better known relatives, Clarias. In captivity it can bury itself in deep sand substrates and appreciates gnarled roots and branches where it can conceal itself. It does not tolerate poor water conditions and can easily succumb to infections brought on by stress – in fact pictures in Seegers and Aqualog show an individual with a dusting of yellow spots which appears to be an infection and is not typical of an individual in good health. A good water change regime along with placid tankmates lead to a trouble free existence. Good tankmates are larger shoaling African tetras and peaceful medium sized African barbs.

It has not yet been bred in aquaria, but egg-filled individuals have been seen, so some dedicated enthusiast may well have some success if they put the effort in with a serious breeding project and find a key spawning trigger. So all-in-all perhaps not everyone's "cup of tea" but nevertheless an interesting and rewarding species.

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