Electric Catfish - Malapterurus electricus

Species name: Malapterurus electricus

Synonym: Silurus electricus; Malapterurus affinis; Malapterurus electricus ogoouensis

Common name: Electric catfish

Family: Malapteruridae

Order: Siluriformes

Class: Actinopterygii

Maximum size: 30 cm / 12 inches

Environment: freshwater

Origin: throughout Central Africa

Temperament: Peaceful

Company: Can show aggression to other aquarium fishes and should there fore not be kept with small or timid fishes.

Water parameters: Temperature 23-30°C / 74-90°F; pH 7.0 – 8.0

Aquarium setup: Electric catfishrequires alarge aquarium. They are shy animals and it is therefore needed to create a lot of hiding places for them using roots and rocks, dimmed lighting is preferred to make them feel even more secure. Plants are optional. Though to their nervous nature special care should be to disturb them as little as possible during aquarium maintenance . Malapterurus electricus (Electric catfish) can give electric shocks when distressed.

Feeding: They prefer live and frozen food. Can sometimes be thought to accept pellets.

Breeding: This species has not been breed in aquarium. Reports from the wild indicates that they are cave spawners.

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