Bolt catfish

Care at a glance

Overview

The bolt catfish is an agile, fast-moving predator that lives up to its name, and it is best kept singly. It is an obligate fish-eater in the wild and stays aggressive in the tank, harassing and attacking its own kind and any similar-looking catfish, so house it alone with fast, robust tankmates too large to be swallowed. Give it a long, open swimming lane, moderate to strong current, and a few solid caves. It usually learns to take quality sinking pellets, strips of fish, prawn, and earthworms, so live feeders are not needed. Aim for a tank of around 455 liters or larger with a tight lid, since it is powerful and easily startled.

In the wild

The bolt catfish is known mainly from the Rio Maranon in the upper Amazon of Peru, with populations likely reaching into rivers draining from Ecuador. It lives in warm, well-oxygenated, fast-flowing water, so recreate that with around 22 to 27 C, a pH between 6 and 7.5, and strong flow from a generous filter or powerhead. A dim setup with a sand or fine gravel bed, smooth boulders, and open channels between them suits its restless, current-loving nature.

Good to know

The bolt catfish is a long-whiskered catfish of the family Pimelodidae and reaches about 34 cm, the largest recorded specimen measuring close to that. It is built for speed, with a slim, muscular body, large fins, and long barbels, dressed in silver with purple and yellow tones. The genus name honours the Aguaruna people of northern Peru, from whose home rivers the fish was described. As an uncommon aquarium species, it has no recorded history of breeding in captivity.

Common questions

Related species

• 

  Vulture catfish

  Calophysus macropterus

  15.7 in (40 cm) · 120 gal (455 L)

  15.7 in (40 cm)120 gal (455 L)75–84°F (24–29°C)

• 

  Zebra shovelnose

  Brachyplatystoma tigrinum

  23.6 in (60 cm) · 151 gal (570 L)

  23.6 in (60 cm)151 gal (570 L)72–90°F (22–32°C)

• 

  Zebra shovelnose catfish

  Brachyplatystoma juruense

  23.6 in (60 cm) · 396 gal (1,500 L)

  23.6 in (60 cm)396 gal (1,500 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)

• 

  Ornate pimelodus

  Pimelodus ornatus

  12.2 in (31 cm) · 65 gal (245 L)

  12.2 in (31 cm)65 gal (245 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)

• 

  Four-line pimelodus

  Pimelodus albofasciatus

  11.8 in (30 cm) · 106 gal (400 L)

  11.8 in (30 cm)106 gal (400 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)

• 

  Zorro catfish

  Platystomatichthys sturio

  15.7 in (40 cm) · 120 gal (455 L)

  15.7 in (40 cm)120 gal (455 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)