Bumblebee jelly catfish
Batrochoglanis raninus
Also known as Frog catfish
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–82°F
- 23–28°C
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Adult size
- 7.9 in
- 20 cm
- Minimum tank
- 53 gal
- 200 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Pseudopimelodidae
- Origin
- Amazon and Guiana lowlands
Overview
The bumblebee jelly catfish is a stout, soft-bodied ambush predator that looks harmless but has a real appetite. It suits a shady, dim tank and a keeper with a little experience.
Did you know
Science stamped the bumblebee jelly catfish a frog twice over. The genus name Batrochoglanis builds on the Greek word for frog, batrachos. The species name raninus comes from rana, the Latin for frog, and both nod to its squat, wide-mouthed shape.
Caring for the bumblebee jelly catfish
Keep one bumblebee jelly catfish in a tank of 53 gal (200 L) or more. It spends the day tucked under wood or in a cave and comes out to feed in the evening. Give it shade, driftwood, caves, leaf litter, a soft substrate and dim light, so it has plenty of daytime hiding places.
Hold the water warm, at 73 to 82°F (23 to 28°C) and a near-neutral pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Quiet water suits its retiring habits. Once it settles, feed meaty foods such as frozen bloodworm, prawn, mussel and earthworms.
Keep it singly, as it is a solitary fish. House it only with tank mates too large to fit in its wide mouth, since it will eat small fish and shrimp. No aquarium spawnings have been recorded.
Good to know
Batrochoglanis raninus belongs to the family Pseudopimelodidae, the bumblebee catfishes. Its loose, banded yellow-and-brown skin gave rise to the jelly and bumblebee trade names. It is also sold as the frog catfish.
In the wild
The bumblebee jelly catfish lives in shady, slow-moving stretches of Amazon and Guiana rivers. By day it hides on the bottom, under branches and roots and among leaf litter.
Common questions
What size tank does a bumblebee jelly catfish need?
A bumblebee jelly catfish needs at least 53 gal (200 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a bumblebee jelly catfish need?
A bumblebee jelly catfish is comfortable at 73–82°F (23–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
What does a bumblebee jelly catfish eat?
A bumblebee jelly catfish eats meaty foods such as frozen bloodworm, prawn, mussel and earthworms. It comes out to feed in the evening, after spending the day under wood or in a cave.
How big does a bumblebee jelly catfish get?
An adult bumblebee jelly catfish reaches about 7.9 in (20 cm).
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