Catfish Characteristics and How to Keep Them

The catfish belongs to the family of the catfishes of the order Catlocidae, which inhabits Japan, China, the Korean Peninsula, and Taiwan in East Asia. It is a river fish with a large, flat head and a broad mouth characterized by a long mustache. The tanigawa catfish belongs to a species endemic to Japan. In this article, I would like to explain in detail the characteristics of the catfish and how to keep it.

What is a catfish?

The catfish belongs to the family Catfishes of the order Catlocidae. The catfish's habitat is located in East Asia: Japan, China, the Korean Peninsula, and Taiwan. The catfish lives in rivers and lakes and is carnivorous.There are four species of catfish that live in Japan: the mannamasu catfish, the Biwako giant catfish, the Iwatoco catfish, and the Tanigawa catfish. The Biwako giant catfish and Iwatoco catfish live in and around Lake Biwa. The tanigawa catfish is endemic to Japan, inhabiting rivers in Aichi, Nagano, Gifu, and Shizuoka prefectures. Mannamasu catfish inhabit a wide range of East Asia. In Japan, mana catfish inhabit a wide range of fresh and brackish water throughout the country, and when we generally speak of catfish, we often refer to mana catfish. In this website, mana catfish will be described primarily. The catfish has a large, flat head and a broad mouth with a long mustache that gives it a distinctive appearance.

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How to keep catfish

Catfish can be an easy species to keep if you know how to keep them. The lifespan of catfish is about 15 to 20 years. Their body size is approximately 50 to 70 cm. However, both lifespan and body size vary depending on the environment in which they are kept and the food they are fed. They prefer slightly alkaline to neutral water quality, with a pH of 7.0 to 8.0. They can live in water temperatures between 5-25℃.

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Points to keep in mind when mixing swimmers

Regarding mixed swimming, first of all, catfish have a nervous disposition. They are carnivorous and are likely to eat any fish that enters their mouths, making them unsuitable for mixed swimming. Therefore, it is recommended to keep them alone.When mixing catfish with each other, be aware that territorial disputes can become violent. Catfish are nervous and may become agitated if they hear noises, so it is important to provide a quiet place for them. If you must have catfish swimming together, it is recommended that you add more aquatic plants to create a hiding place for them.

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メダカを、専門店に見に行くとたくさんの種類に驚きます。値段も違えば、体色や柄も違うので何を基準に選べばいいのか迷います。なので、今回はそんなメダカの種類について詳しく説明していきたいと思います。 メダカの種類 緋メダカ […]

Points about spawning

Many people who keep catfish want to breed them. In the wild, catfish spawn around spring. During spawning season, they gather in shallow waters and engage in a unique breeding behavior in which males wrap themselves around the bodies of females.They then lay their eggs in water plants or on the bottom of the water. The eggs are about 3 mm in size and yellowish green in color. They hatch in about 2 to 3 days after spawning. If the density is high, there is a high possibility of cannibalism, such as attacking fellow fry. In a general breeding environment, the hurdle is high, so please make sure to prepare well in advance before attempting to spawn.

What to keep in mind when keeping catfish

The catfish has a large, flat head and a wide mouth with a long mustache. As explained above, catfish are very nervous, and they become stressed by noises. They are also nocturnal, so many people do not find them interesting because they hide in dark places during the day. Also, please turn off the LED lights attached to the aquarium tank at night. Please do not place the aquarium in a very sunny place during the daytime, but choose a dimly lit place.Also, the sounds of the TV and other household noises can be stressful to them, so taking care of these noises on a daily basis will likely extend their lifespan. The most important factor in keeping catfish is the food. Catfish are a picky eater, although individual catfish are different. If the food does not suit their palate, they will not eat it at all. Some prefer live food, while others prefer artificial feed. For live food, many people feed them small red, killifish, frogs, etc. As for artificial feed, "Cat" and "Big Cat" sold by Hikari have been popular for a long time and are recommended from the aspect of management. If you are interested in catfish, we recommend that you visit a specialty store.

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