What is a Shadow Catfish?
The shadow catfish is a nano catfish, meaning that it is very small. It is recognized by hobbyists as a beautiful addition to an aquarium, and its unique beauty mesmerizes every person that sees this fish.
Size
Adult shadow catfish are known to grow to approximately 2 inches long. Shadow catfish babies can be measured in centimeters because they are so small. These tiny fish can be easy to miss due to their tiny size.
Appearance
The appearance of this species is what attracts most people to them. They are transparent, much like the Ghost catfish, but part of their body is also covered with black spots or stripes. When swimming, this combination gives them a shadow-like appearance, hence how they got their name.
Aquarists can find these fish in a variety of the above description. Some are more transparent than others, with little black markings. Others may have significantly more black markings and less transparency. There is a nice variety available to ensure that consumers can find exactly what they are looking for.
Origin/Home
The Shadow catfish is native to specific parts of India but is found throughout the world in aquariums and pet stores. Its unique characteristics and appearance make it an aquarist favorite. Most catfish owners that want a small aquarium or would like to add a little bit of variety to one that they already own wind up considering the Shadow catfish. It has found its way into homes across the world because of this.
Temperament
Peaceful by nature, these small fish will never start a fight with other fish. Instead, they remain unbothered by tankmates. They will peacefully hide underneath some driftwood or behind a floating plant, ignoring fish that swim by. This makes them the perfect addition to community aquariums.
Hiding Places Are Important In Aquariums
These tiny catfish are used to being prey, so they spend a lot of time hiding in the shadows. For these fish to be comfortable in aquariums they will need plenty of hiding places. Pick up some driftwood, caves, and plants to make sure that there is plenty of cover for this skittish species.
Common Foods
Most people feed their Shadow catfish very small frozen and live foods, such as blood worms and brine shrimp. If these are not readily available, catfish flakes will also suffice. It is important to remember that Shadow catfish need a diverse diet in order to live a long and healthy life. Because of this, it is not recommended that owners feed them solely fish flakes for food.
Shadow Catfish Prefer Schools
These fish can get lonely and stressed if they are kept by themselves. Instead, purchase at least five Shadow catfish to guarantee that they can swim in a school. This will keep them happy and comfortable in their new home.
Lighting
It is important to keep in mind that these fish are skittish by nature, and do not like bright lights. If aquariums already have lights in use, owners are advised to invest in floating plants to provide a comfortable environment for their Shadow catfish.
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