鲸鲶 · Blue Whale Catfish

Overview

Cetopsis coecutiens is an active South American catfish whose feeding behavior rules out conventional community keeping. Small fish may be swallowed, while much larger companions can lose pieces of flesh to its bites. Dedicated solitary housing is the preferred arrangement.

Distribution & habitat

The range includes Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, and Bolivia, across the Amazon, Tocantins, and Orinoco drainages. Large flowing rivers provide open-water habitat.

Aquarium setup

An adult needs at least approximately 120 by 45 by 45 cm, or 243 L. Decoration is less important than circulation and oxygenation. Direct the filter return to disturb the surface, or use a suitable pump to maintain movement. Subdued lighting encourages greater activity than a brightly exposed setting.

Diet & feeding

Its eager appetite makes live fish unnecessary. Offer suitable animal foods such as shrimp, shellfish, small fish foods, and earthworms, using live or frozen preparations as appropriate. Some individuals accept dry foods. Greed makes overfeeding easy, so continued feeding responses should not determine portion size.

Behaviour & compatibility

Keep it apart from other species. Neither a small companion nor a fish larger than the catfish is protected from predation or damaging bites. Conspecific groups have sometimes worked and appear less likely to trigger feeding attacks, but this does not establish safe general-community behavior. Exercise care during maintenance because bites can cause injury.

Sexual dimorphism

Females have a fuller body. The male's dorsal fin develops a more pointed shape with maturity.

Notes

Wild feeding groups reportedly locate weakened fish through a developed sense of smell. Small, skin-covered eyes and a slippery body are associated with entering prey during feeding.