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Aguarunichthys torosus

Bolt Catfish · Stier-Antennenwelse

Stewart, 1986

On this page7 sections
Subadult specimen from the German aquarium trade.
Subadult specimen from the German aquarium trade.Enrico Richter

Quick facts

Length
346mm SL14in SL
Tank base
not recorded
Temp
not recorded
pH
not recorded
Hardness
not recorded

Difficulty3 of 6 measures

Moderate

More bars, more demanding.

Space
very large tank
Water
unknown
Temp
unknown
Temperament
unknown
Social
kept alone
Compatibility
not a community fish

An obligate predator feeding on other fishes in nature, but quality dried foods are normally accepted in captivity. It should also be offered meaty fare such as strips of white fish, live earthworms, shrimp, etc., for optimum health.

Etymology

Aguarunichthys: in reference to the Aguaruna, an indigenous people of the Peruvian jungle who primarily live on the Marañón River in northern Peru near the border with Ecuador, plus the Greek ichthýs (Gr. ἰχθύς), meaning 'fish'.

torosus: from the Latin torosus, meaning 'muscular, brawny', in reference to this species' stout body shape.

Distribution

This species is known only from the Río Marañón in the upper Amazon basin, Peru, and probably occurs in some tributaries draining into Peru from Ecuador.

Type locality is 'Río Cenepa, Departo. Amazonas, Peru, about 4°28'S, 78°10'W, elevation about 210 meters'.

Diet

An obligate predator feeding on other fishes in nature, but quality dried foods are normally accepted in captivity.

It should also be offered meaty fare such as strips of white fish, live earthworms, shrimp, etc., for optimal health.

Adult individuals are unlikely to require feeding on a daily basis with 2-3 meals per week sufficient.

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Behaviour and compatibility

This species will eat fishes small enough to fit in its capacious mouth and is aggressively territorial towards conspecifics so is best-maintained as a single specimen in a community of larger, ideally fluvial, species.

Notes

This species is also traded as 'Jello Band' or 'Yellow Band' catfish.

References

  1. Ferraris, C. J., Jr. (2007). Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa 1418, 1-628
  2. Reis, R. E., S. O. Kullander and C. J. Ferraris, Jr. (eds) (2003). Check list of the freshwater fishes of South and Central America. CLOFFSCA. EDIPUCRS, Porto Alegre, i-xi + 1-729

Distribution

Profile completeness14 of 24

58% complete

Missing: water parameters, hardness, aquarium size, temperament, habitat, aquarium notes, maintenance, water condition notes, sexual dimorphism, reproduction.