TankBud

African eel catfish

Channallabes apus

Also known as Eel catfish, Gaboon eel catfish, Snake catfish

FreshwaterFish

African eel catfish (Channallabes apus)
Frank M. Greco · CC BY 3.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–82°F
22–28°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
13 in
33 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
Clariidae
Origin
Found in swamps and muddy waters of the Congo basin in Central Africa.

Overview

The African eel catfish is a hardy, eel-like oddball that lives on the bottom of the tank. It needs a keeper with a little experience.

Did you know

The African eel catfish is one of the very few fish that can hunt on land. It lunges out of the water and arches its body downward to trap and swallow insects clear of the surface.

Caring for the African eel catfish

Give the African eel catfish at least 53 gal (200 L), with soft sand, heavy cover and plenty of wood and root tangles. Keep the light dim. It is a notorious escape artist that will climb out through the smallest gap, so fit an absolutely secure, weighted lid.

Keep the water warm, at 72 to 82°F (22 to 28°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Feed meaty foods such as earthworms, bloodworm and prawn after dark.

The African eel catfish is a nocturnal predator that will eat small fish and shrimp. It ignores larger, faster tank mates and is otherwise not aggressive.

Good to know

Channallabes apus belongs to Clariidae, the airbreathing catfish family. It has a long, snake-like body, tiny eyes, reduced fins and an accessory breathing organ.

In the wild

The African eel catfish lives in swamps, muddy backwaters and oxygen-poor pools of the Congo basin. It wriggles through mud and dense cover like an eel, burrowing through soft mud in search of food. It can breathe air, which lets it survive stagnant water.

Common questions

What size tank does an African eel catfish need?

An African eel catfish needs at least 53 gal (200 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does an African eel catfish need?

An African eel catfish is comfortable at 72–82°F (22–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does an African eel catfish eat?

An African eel catfish eats meaty foods such as earthworms, bloodworm and prawn. Feed it after dark, since it is a nocturnal predator.

How big does an African eel catfish get?

An adult African eel catfish reaches about 13 in (33 cm).

Related species