Cat-eLog Right Auchenipteridae Right Auchenipterinae Right Asterophysus  |  | 

Down Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name Asterophysus batrachus  Kner, 1858
Common Names Gulper Catfish
Ogre Catfish, Stormundet Rovmalle (Denmark)
Type Locality Marabitanos, Brazil.
Pronunciation Ass TERR oh fye suss - bat RACK uss
Etymology Asterophysus: From the Greek aster, meaning star and physa, meaning bellows; in reference to the blind viliform processes around the periphery of the swimbladder characteristic of this genus. 
Articles
Article Link - CotM Right 2004 Right August
Down Species Information
Size 250mm or 9.8" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification The trapdoor like 'salmonesque' lower jaw is this species best external / visual characteristic.
Sexing The leading rays of the male's anal fin are fused to form a urinogenital organ used (at least in related genera) in internal fertilization of the female. This modification of the anal fin does not manifest itself until the male is approaching adulthood.
Down Habitat Information
Distribution South America: Orinoco and Negro River basins.
Amazon, Middle Amazon (Solimoes), Negro (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Orinoco (click on these areas to find other species found there)

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IUCN Red List Category Least Concern, range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2020.
pH 5.6 - 7.0
Temperature 24.0-29.0°C or 75.2-84.2°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters A blackwater species.
Down Husbandry Information
Feeding These fish will literally try and eat anything. Krill appears a real favourite, but all foods are accepted. The fish becomes more active during the day when not recently fed, feeding should be as with large pimelodids, less and less frequent with age. You would expect to feed an adult weekly. This may not be possible in tanks where the fish is kept with other species and so the fish should be fed smaller regular portions of food which may reduce its activity during the day. User data.
Furniture The fish like to rest and hide in driftwood piles during the day but should be given at least 3 quarters of the aquarium as open swimming room for nocturnal prowling. Tall plants can also be used to coax the fish out during daylight feeding time in less stark surroundings. Choice of substrate is unimportant.
Compatibility Obviously care is required in housing fish with this species. Fish large enough not to be eaten but non-predatory to the point they will not eat the Asterophysus.
Suggested Tankmates Fish large enough not to be eaten (amazingly for this species, this means at least twice the size of the Asterophysus, larger is less risky) but non-predatory to the point they will not eat the Asterophysus. Larger characins, doradids and loricariids are probably the best bet.
Breeding Unreported.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Down Further Information
Reference Sitzungsberichte der Kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften. Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Classe v. 26 (s. 373), pp 403 [33], Pl. 5 (figs. 13-15).
Registered Keepers There are 26 registered keepers, view all "my cats" data.
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There are 18 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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Last Update 2020 Sep 17 11:10 (species record created: 2002 Nov 11 00:00)