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Electric Catfish

electric-catfish

Size

From snout to tail, some members of this genus can easily reach lengths of 4 feet as adults, but most fall between 2 and 3 feet on average.

Physical Appearance

The electrical catfish resembles the majority of the others in its order. It has three pairs of barbels (sensing organs that resemble whiskers), a long, puffy body, thick lips, small eyes, and a rounded nose. The dorsal (back) fin is completely absent from this fish, although it possesses rounded pectoral and pelvic fins. On the back and sides, they are typically gray-brown in colour. Around the stomach, this gradually fades to a white or cream colour. Some also have sporadic black markings on their body’s flanks.

electric-catfish

Habitat

In Africa’s huge Nile River, in particular, the electric catfish can be found in freshwater lakes and rivers. They often like slow-moving or still water that has lots of hiding places, limited visibility, and cover.

Keeping as Pet

The average length of an adult electric catfish will be between 1 and 3 feet, while some species can grow as long as 4 feet. Minimum tank size requirements are 135 gallons, a temperature range of 74 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit, and a pH range of 7.0 to 8.0. Worms, prawns and krill can make up a healthy portion of a catfish’s diet, but you must be careful not to overfeed them because they will consume everything you put in front of them. Although bottom-feeding catfish will handle some of the cleaning on their own, the tank will still require routine manual cleaning. Cleaning should be done with the right equipment, as advised by a pro. Obviously, the catfish should be handled carefully due to its electrical potential.

Table

electric-catfish table

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