Mary Allen
With around 300 different species, catfish form the most species-rich catfish family. Externally, the antennae catfish is characterized by its long, thin “antennas” and the hard outer shell. The “real” Ancistrus is the blue catfish.
Nocturnal Window Cleaner
The catfish becomes active when the other aquarium inhabitants slowly withdraw to sleep. At dusk, it leaves its hiding places near the ground to search the aquarium for food. It also owes its nickname “window cleaner” or “sucker catfish” to its ability to attach itself to all objects in the aquarium when looking for food.
The Antennae Catfish Feels at Home Here
The blue catfish can grow up to 14 cm. Tanks from a length of around 80 cm or with a water volume of 112 liters are therefore suitable for keeping them. When designing the catfish tank, you should make sure that it offers enough hiding places.
The sucker catfish also absolutely needs wooden furnishings that it can work on with its suction mouth, as these serve as a source of skin food. Only when there is a sufficient supply of softwood does the catfish leave the plant world largely alone. The choice of the substrate should exclude sharp-edged gravel for a bottom dweller.
In Company or Alone?
A male catfish should be kept in a tank with one or two females. If you want to do without offspring, you can keep both sexes of this breeding animal alone. Incidentally, the catfish can be socialized with almost all peaceful fish.
Oxygen-Rich Water
The catfish is happy about well-filtered, oxygen-rich, and current-rich water with a temperature between 22 and 28 °C. With proper care and good nutrition, it can live up to 19 years.