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CATFISH


SCHILBEIDAE FAMILY
The Schilbeidae or Glass Catfish Family is found throughout Africa and Asia and includes the genera Eutropiellus, Parailia, and Schilbe. About 45 species are included in this family. [the Glass Catfish from Southeast Asia]

Flag-tailed Glass catfish, African Glass Catfish[Pictures]
Eutropiellus buffei
SYN: Eutropius buffei, Eutropiellus vanderweyeri
PD: This catfish is elongated and has a distinctive, wide longitudinal black line that extends the length of the body. It has three pair of barbels and its dorsal fin is tall. The body coloring is white to blue and somewhat translucent. There are two other stripes that become more pronounced with age. One extends along the top of the back, while the other along the belly. In reflected light sometimes parts of this fish are gold to red. The African Glass Catfish has a long anal fin that is deeply forked. Its eyes are large while the mouth is small. The fins are transparent.
SIZE: To 3.2" (8 cm)
SS: A similar species, Eutropiellus debauwi, from Malebo Pool (part of Stanley Pool, Zaire) can be distinguished by its rounded tips on the caudal fins. E. debauwi is rarely seen. HAB: Near riverbanks in floodplains. Central Africa: Southern Nigeria; Niger River watershed
S: middle
TANK: 32" (80 cm) or 30 gallons (114 l). Provide well-planted corners for retreats. The tank should have dim lighting caused by a cover of floating plants. The tank should be arranged in dark colors to help comfort the fish. Use a filter that provides strong current and leave open swimming areas.
WATER: pH 6-7.5 (6.8), 1-16 dH (7), 75-82°F (24-28°C)
SB: A peaceful, schooling fish that can be kept in a community tank. Keep in groups of at least six or more individuals. Single fish do poorly.
SC: Synodontis, Congo Tetras, Kribensis, Steatocranus
FOOD: Live; insect larvae, Tubifex, Brine Shrimp; flake.
SEX: Females are plumper
B: Stimulating the rainy season helps initiate spawning. Keep one male with two females. Up to 100, white eggs are laid among plants and they hatch in 2-5 days. The parents should be removed after eggs are laid. Fry are difficult to raise, try feeding them small live foods like Artemia. Once fry are established, they grow quickly.
BP: 9. Breeding this catfish is very difficult.
R: This fish may nibble plants if not fed sufficient amounts of food. This fish's caudal fin is constantly moving, when resting or swimming. This fish may get caught in a net because of spines on the dorsal and pectoral fins. Instead, use a glass or plastic bag to catch this catfish. This species was formally known as E. vanderweyeri. Regular water changes are needed to keep this catfish in top condition.
DC: 4. A pleasant fish that requires a diet supplemented with live foods.

African Glass Catfish, Congo Glass Catfish
Parailia congica
SYN: Parailia longifilis
PD: Its body is elongated and laterally compressed. It is scaleless and lack body pigment, thus making the fish semi-transparent. The body color is light brown and small brown spots cover the body. The internal organs and backbone can be seen. A dark brown stripe runs the vertebrate and extends to the tip of the tail. A line of small spots runs along the bottom part of the fish's body. A long pair of barbels are located on the upper jaw, while two slightly shorter pairs and one small pair are located on the lower. This glass catfish lacks dorsal and adipose fins.
SIZE: To 3" (8 cm)
SS: Kryptopterus, Omnpok, Parailia
HAB: West Africa; Stanley Pool of the Zaire River.
S: bottom, middle
TANK: 32" (80 cm) or 30 gallons (114 L). Provide good aeration and moderate current. The water should be very clean and clear. The tank should be well-planted. Provide hiding places with rocks, roots, and wood.
WATER: pH 6.5 to 7.5 (6.9), 2-15 dH (8), 73-79°F (23-26°C)
SB: A shy, peaceful community fish that should be kept in a shoal of at least four fish. Individual specimen do poorly. A diurnal catfish.
SC: Synodontis, Congo Tetras, Kribensis, Steatocranus, Eutropiellus, tetras
FOOD: Live; insect larvae, Brine Shrimp, Tubifex, aquatic and terrestrial insects; flake. This fish must be fed live foods 1-2 times a week to stay healthy.
SEX: Females are said to be plumper.
B: Has not been reported. By feeding a pair mosquito larvae and Daphnia, keeping them in a clean tank, and stimulating the rainy season; spawning should be possible.
BP: 10. Breeding has not been accomplished in aquaria
R: Very sensitive to water pollutants. Perform frequent partial water changes.
DC: 5. A sensitive fish that requires a diet of live foods.







Recent news

Charting a new environmental course in China

(05/21/2012) Founded in 1951, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) works in more than 30 countries and has projects in all 50 of the United States. The Conservancy has over one million members, and has protected more than 119 million acres of wild-lands and 5,000 miles of rivers worldwide. TNC has taken an active interest in China, the world's most populated nation, and in many important ways, a critical center of global development. The following is an interview with multiple directors of The Nature Conservancy's China Program.


New 'bony-tongue' fish discovered in Myanmar

(05/18/2012) A new species of arowana, a highly valued aquarium fish, has been described from southern Myanmar (Burma). The description is published in last month's issue of the journal Aqua.


Wildlife in the tropics plummets by over 60 percent

(05/15/2012) In 48 years wildlife populations in the tropics, the region that holds the bulk of the world's biodiversity, have fallen by an alarming 61 percent, according to the most recent update to the Living Planet Index. Produced by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), the index currently tracks almost 10,000 populations of 2,688 vertebrate species (including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish) in both the tropics and temperate regions.


Educating the next generation of conservation leaders in Colombia

(05/14/2012) Colombia's northern departments of Cordoba and Bolivar are home to an abundance of coral reefs, estuaries, mangroves forests, and forests. Rich in both marine and terrestrial wildlife, local communities depend on the sea and land for survival, yet these ecosystems are imperiled by booming populations, overexploitation, and unsustainable management. Since 2007, an innovative education program in the region, the Guardians of Nature, has worked to teach local children about the ecology of the region, hoping to instill a conservation ethic that will aid both the present and the future.


Manta rays tracked by satellite

(05/11/2012) Satellite tracking technology has revealed new insights into the behavior of manta rays, reports the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). The findings are published in this week's issue of the journal PLoS.


Featured video: the oceans and Rio+20

(05/10/2012) A new video by Pew Environment Group and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) hopes to convince policy-makers attending the Rio+20 Summit on Sustainable Development this summer that urgent action is needed to save the ocean's from an environmental crisis.



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Copyright Rhett Butler 1994-2009

The copy for fish.mongabay.com was written in 1994-1995. Therefore some information such as scientific names may be out of date. For this, I apologize. Feel free to send corrections to me.