What is a Banjo Catfish?
The banjo catfish is from a relatively smaller catfish family of only a little over 40 species, but there are still plenty of these fish in the wild and in pet stores to make them one of the most well-known families of catfish. They are known for their appearance simply because it is not as pretty as other tropical catfish, but they are also known for being a wonderful addition to aquariums.
Origin
This family of catfish comes from the warm waters of South America. It prefers the nice temperature and slow rivers of Peru where it can happily feast on its preferred diet or elegantly swimming.
Where is it Found?
The Aspredinidae still calls the land of Peru or the Amazon home, but it can be found all over the world thanks to it being a popular fish among aquarists. It remains one of the more popular families of catfish due to several interesting things about this catfish, most of which make it the perfect addition to freshwater aquariums.
Appearance
The banjo catfish, also commonly called the frying panfish, is known for its appearance. It has a flat body that is shaped just like a banjo, hence the name. It is often found in khaki color with grey or green spots instead of other tropical colors, but it is still beautiful to watch if you can catch it swimming around the aquarium.
Playing Dead
Catching the Aspredinidae swimming is the hard part. This fish is known for playing dead or hiding. Often, it can be found hiding out among plants or in caves. If hiding isn’t an option, it can be found being perfectly still as though it were dead. This can frustrate fish owners that want to see the banjo catfish in action, but it makes it well worth it when they finally catch it swimming.
Nocturnal
The Aspredinidae remains invisible during the day by hiding in the sand at the bottom of the tank. It remains in place throughout the day but will often rise out of the sand to eat when night-time falls. Owners that would like to see their fish swimming are encouraged to get a night-time light to illuminate the aquarium.
Small Size
Another reason that these fish are so popular for aquariums is their small size. Larger ones can be a little over a foot long, but most of them never reach six inches long. They can be kept in both small and large aquariums comfortably.
Compatibility
Because this fish is a versatile tank mate, most owners enjoy the addition to existing aquariums or will find that it is the perfect fish for beginners. It can be housed in a small aquarium by itself, and it will be happy. Aspredinidae also enjoy being kept in a small school of their own species. They will not interact with other fish during the day, but it is because they are nocturnal not because they are unfriendly. Community aquariums are also a great place for this fish. They are not aggressive in nature and will not cause any harm to other species of fish.
The banjo catfish remains one of the most popular fish in aquariums due to its interesting characteristics and it being easy to care for. Both beginners and experienced aquarists will enjoy this fish.
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