PlanetCatfish.com - Bunocephalus coracoideus (Aspredinidae) Cat-eLog

Dorsal view
Male
Female
Video: courtship behaviour
Male
Video: Eggs hatching
Juvenile almost 1 month old
Juvenile
Close-up of head
Close-up of head
Close-up of pectoral fin

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	- CotM 1997 June - 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.
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Last Update	2021 May 27 09:05 (species record created: 2001 Apr 13 00:00)