Asterophysus batrachus (Gulper Catfish) - biotope...

[I Prefer Dogs]

I am thinking about getting 1 or 2 Gulper Catfish (Asterophysus batrachus).

Tank will be:

40" x 18" x 30".

Powered by 2 externals rated at 1200L/H and 1000L/H.

Total Volume: 360 Litres or 93 US Gallons.

Which should be more than enough for these fish

However, I would like MORE info on these Cats, I can only find surface info so far after extensive searching. I would also appreciate link to pictures of their natural biotope which I believe is Orinoco and Rio Negro basins. I notice most people keep them in bare bottom tanks with nothing else. I would like to a tleast attempt a recreation.

[MatsP]

Is that 18" wide and 30" tall, or 30" wide and 18" tall? If it's the former, then I'd say it's not big enough.

--
Mats

[I Prefer Dogs]

It's big enough, don't worry.

[racoll]

If I were setting up a loose Negro/Orinoco "biotope" for these fish, I would do the following:

White sand (~1cm) for ease of cleaning. Avoid gravel.

A large bogwood snag at one end of the tank (approx one third) for the A. batrachus to sulk in. This would comprise stacked bogwood branches reaching to the surface.

An open area at the other end (two thirds) for activity.

Tannin stained water - use blanched alder cones and oak leaves on the substrate

A few floating surface plants to block out light at the snag end.

Hope this helps.