Eel Catfish - Channallabes apus

[doesdavid]

I have three eel catfish, however they apear different then the pics shown on the facts page. Over the time that I have had my fish (since Nov/06)I have foud them to be air breathers as apposed to water breathers. they have no gills, and must surface to take a breath. I have seen them go for an hour or more without surfacing to take another breath, this usually happens usually when they are sleeping. I have also found that they seem to prefer to sleep with their head elevated. On more then 1 occassion I have been told that a fish in my publice tank is dead, only to find that one of my eel cats if just sleeping. They close their eyes and just float with their head up, and their tail touching the bottom.

[Silurus]

I have three eel catfish, however they apear different then the pics shown on the facts page.

There are six species of Channallabes. Maybe you have one of the other five. Or maybe you have

Gymnallabes

.

I have also found that they seem to prefer to sleep with their head elevated. On more then 1 occassion I have been told that a fish in my publice tank is dead, only to find that one of my eel cats if just sleeping. They close their eyes and just float with their head up, and their tail touching the bottom.

I think this more likely a consequence of the air in the suprabranchial chamber, which makes the head less dense than the body in the water.

[sidguppy]

they have no gills, and must surface to take a breath

no and yes

they DO have gills, but they're evolved for an environment where the waterquality can vary a LOT.
so they can and do use both methods of breeding.
as a consequence this is one of the fish species that can literally drown

bit weird eh, a fish that can drown......