Order Siluriformes
Family Claroteidae
All claroteids are active predators. They prefer a nocturnal lifestyle. Many species of this family live in Lake Tanganyika and the Congo River basin.
Subfamily ( Auchenoglanidinae )
Genus Anaspidoglanis
— Flatnose Catfish — Anaspidoglanis macrostomus [Pellegrin, 1909]. Synonyms: Parauchenoglanis, Auchenoglanis macrostoma; Parauchenoglanis ansorgii. 20 cm. Niger and Upper Volta river deltas. Three pairs of long barbels.
Brownish coloration, yellow-brown flanks, yellowish underside. The body has 5 transverse bands consisting of large dark spots. Small specks between the bands. Fins range from yellowish to reddish-brown. Dorsal and caudal fins feature rows of dark spots. Males are smaller than females and possibly darker.
Very timid and will hide in shelters. Digs in the substrate, uproots plants, greedy eaters. They require a large aquarium, are territorial, actively defend their territory, and need plenty of hides. Predatory, may eat small fish at night (up to 7 cm), uproots plants. Best kept singly. Reaches maturity at 2.5 years. T 23-27°C; dH up to 15°; pH 6.5-8.0.
Genus Auchenoglanis
— African Giraffe Catfish, African Giraffe Bagrid — Auchenoglanis occidentalis [Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1840]. Synonym: Parauchenoglanis altipinnis. Tropical Africa, Nile, Niger, and Congo rivers, lakes Chad and Tanganyika. 70 cm. Large head relative to the body. Coloration varies depending on locality.
Main coloration is uniform, ranging from solid brown to violet-brown or light, with darker marbled reticulation. The entire body is speckled with marble spots resembling a giraffe’s hide. With age, spots usually fade and the color turns brown. Belly is creamy white. Fins are creamy white with spots.
Best suited for large aquariums of at least 350 liters. A peaceful large catfish that can be kept with African cichlids when young (up to 18 cm). Will eat any smaller fish that can fit in its mouth. Adults should be kept alone. Requires a spacious aquarium with large driftwood and stones; undemanding regarding water parameters.
Low lighting. Active filtration with good water flow and aeration. Its long pointed snout is well-adapted for sifting detritus from the substrate. Omnivorous, accepts any live food, frozen products, pellets, mollusks; eats huge amounts of food and thus heavily pollutes the water. Eats plants. The male cares for the offspring. Recommended for experienced aquarists only. Lives up to 18 years. pH 6.5-8.0; dH 10-25°; T 21-25°C.
Identification: African Giraffe Catfish — Auchenoglanis occidentalis.
Subfamily ( Claroteinae )
Genus Chrysichthys
— African Wood Catfish, Ornate Bagrid — Chrysichthys ornatus [Boulenger, 1902]. Congo River. 22 cm. The golden-brown body features intense blue spots best seen in juveniles. Spots fade with age.
Adults display alternating large, irregular dark brown to black spots and pale yellowish to brownish spots. Belly is dingy white. Fins are pale with irregular dark spots. The dorsal fin is held upright and, like all others, speckled with dark dots. Each lobe of the caudal fin features a blurred dark lengthwise stripe. Spined pectoral fins.
Very large mouth capable of swallowing prey up to half its own length. Nocturnal, hunts smaller fish at night. Despite being predatory, these fish are peaceful and can be kept in groups if sufficient space is provided. Hiding places are necessary. Active filtration and aeration needed. Diet includes frozen shrimp, mussels, bloodworms, pellets, and catfish tablets. pH 6.0-8.0; T 20-25°C.
— Silver Cat — Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus [Lacepede, 1803]. Senegal, Angola. 55 cm. Large eyes, 4 pairs of barbels. Main coloration is gray-silver with a white underside. Features a large dorsal fin with a rounded upper margin and a deeply forked caudal fin. Fins are grayish-pink, adipose fin is black. Males usually have a broader head, which they use to dig nests in their habitat.
Large, nocturnal, highly predatory — this fish is suitable for display aquariums only. Juveniles can be kept with giant gouramis, tilapias, large cichlids. Large clay tubes are used for hides. Eggs are laid in caves and guarded by the parents. pH 6.5-7.5; T 24-26°C.
— African Big Eye Catfish — Chrysichthys longipinnis [Boulenger, 1899]. Synonyms: Chrysichthys magnus, Gephyroglanis gigas, Gephyroglanis longipinnis. Congo. 60 cm. Silvery gray. Males are larger, darker, with broader heads. Nocturnal fish. Aeration, filtration, and water changes are mandatory. Carnivorous. Matures at 2.5 years. Pair spawning in a hide. dH 4-15°, pH 6.5-7.8, T 22-28°C.
Genus Lophiobagrus
— African Bullhead, Tanganyikan Catfish — Lophiobagrus cyclurus [Worthington & Ricardo, 1937]. Synonym: Lophiobagrus lestradei. Lake Tanganyika. Male 10 cm, female 8 cm. Brownish or dark gray-black with a gray-yellow margin on the dorsal and caudal fins. Whitish barbels. Males are somewhat larger and darker than females. Besides cichlids, the lake hosts other fish well-suited for captivity that can nicely “dilute” the traditional cichlid population of a Tanganyikan aquarium.
Equipped like an aquarium for Lake Tanganyika cichlids, with piles of rocks arranged as cave-shelters, calcareous substrate. During the day, catfish hide among rocks, plants, or flower pots, but quickly reveal themselves when food is dropped in. Fiercely guard their caves from conspecifics and other fish. Peaceful feeder, eats standard prepared catfish foods. Spawns in caves; the male cares for and guards eggs and fry. pH 7.5-8.8; dH 15-25°; T 22-26°C.
— Lophiobagrus — Lophiobagrus brevispinis [Bailey & Stewart, 1984]. Lake Tanganyika. Male 7 cm, female 6 cm. Reddish-brown with a white belly. Light margins on all fins are absent, eyes are very large. Rounded caudal fin. Males are much broader with a larger head. Small, peaceful. Social fish that should be kept in a small group with plenty of hiding places—at least one per fish.
Many hides are required. Moderately aggressive cichlid species and Synodontis can be added to the community. When combining with L. cyclurus, keep in mind that the latter is more aggressive. Regularly emerge from hides during daily feedings. Water must be clean and oxygen-rich, especially when attempting breeding. pH 7.4-8.8; T 22-28°C.
Genus Phyllonemus
— Spatula Barbeled Catfish – Phyllonemus typus [Boulenger, 1906]. Lake Tanganyika, 10 cm. Body shaped like a small torpedo. Very large eyes. Lower jaw barbels are creamy white, upper jaw barbels are black. Upper body is brown with a slight metallic sheen. Features a lovely copper tone over its reddish-brown body with a creamy underside. Forked caudal fin. Each caudal lobe has a white tip. Serrated posterior edge of the pectoral fin.
Predator, hunts small fish, highly aggressive. Best kept in a group with peaceful cichlids in an aquarium piled with rocks where they prefer to hide. In their native habitat, they feed on insect larvae and crustaceans, but in the aquarium, they will eat most standard foods. Prefers higher pH water, optimal temperature around 25°C. pH 7.5-8.4; 10-20° gH; T 24-26°C.
Ariopsis seemanni, Coenonesian Sea Catfish, Shark Catfish.
Malapterurus electricus, Malapterurus microstoma. 
