Electric Catfish-Malapterurus electricus

Care

The Electric Catfish is known from much of Central Africa that lies north of the Zambezi River, although it is absent from Lake Victoria and the Congo basin. This is a beast of a bottom-dweller that not only attains a large, bulky size, but is capable of discharging up to 400V – enough to stun an adult human. This significant electrical charge, generated by a unique pectoral muscle that surrounds most of the body, is used for both capturing prey and for defence. It goes without saying that this is a species that must be kept on its own. The aquarium should be as long and wide as possible, as although this is a largely sedentary species, it obviously requires a tank that is spacious enough for it to turn around comfortably. The substrate should consist of soft sand or very fine rounded gravel as the Electric Catfish spends the majority of its time on the bottom and does like to wallow. The lighting should be subdued and there should be provision of one or more large shady shelters for this nocturnal catfish to take refuge in, built from large pieces of driftwood or rocks. Do ensure that all decor is stable though, as these fish are more than capable of rearranging things. A guard should be fitted to the heater in order to protect the catfish from burning its skin if it accidentally rests against it. Better still, opt for a canister filter that has a heater built in, so the element is not situated in the tank itself. Electric Catfish are voracious eaters, so filtration must be efficient. However, as these fish prefer sluggish waters, water movement must be gentle. Frequent partial water changes are essential to keep nitrate at a minimum. Although long-term captive specimens rarely discharge during routine maintenance, any routine work should be carried out with the utmost respect and caution. Always wear heavy duty rubber gloves, as it is not worth the risk to go without. The aquarium must have a tight fitting lid, and this may need weighting down for extra security. A blue moon light timed to come on just before the main lights switch off will allow you to observe your secretive catfish under subdued illumination for a few hours into the evening. In the wild, these fish are at their most active in the 4-5 hours following sunset, and this is also when maximum electrical organ discharge occurs as this is the optimum time for hunting. An albino variant of the Electric Catfish is sometimes available.

Feeding

Offer a varied selection of meaty foods. Smaller specimens will take bloodworm, Mysis shrimp, chopped seafood, small pieces of meat etc. Larger specimens will enjoy earthworms, prawns etc. Some will also take tablet food, but this is very much trial and error. Be sure not to overfeed as these fish can become real gluttons.

Breeding

The Electric Catfish has not been bred in the home aquarium. It is reported that in the wild, the fish form pairs and spawn in burrows with the possibility that mouthbrooding may be involved (although this needs confirmation).