Debauwi cat

Pareutropius debauwi

Also known as African swallowtail catfish

FreshwaterFish

Debauwi cat (Pareutropius debauwi) — The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature: 73–82°F (23–28°C)
pH: 6.5–7.5
Adult size: 5.1 in (13 cm)
Minimum tank: 40 gal (150 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Schooling
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: No record
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Congo basin, central Africa
Family: Schilbeidae

Overview

A slim, active schooling catfish that swims in midwater all day, tail flicking, rather than hiding on the bottom. It needs company of its own kind, so keep a group of six or more; kept in ones and twos it turns shy and hides. It is peaceful and suits a community of other calm, small to medium fish, with nothing large enough to intimidate or eat it. Feed small frozen and dried foods, such as bloodworm, daphnia, brine shrimp, micro pellets and flake, several times through the day. Give the shoal a planted tank of around 150 liters with steady, moderate flow and open swimming space along the front.

In the wild

The debauwi cat comes from the Congo basin of central Africa, where it schools in the midwater of moderately flowing forest streams and rivers. Keep it warm, about 23 to 28 C, in soft to neutral water around pH 6.5 to 7.5. A dark substrate, driftwood, some cover at the sides and a moderate current suit it, while good filtration and clean water keep this active swimmer in condition.

Good to know

Pareutropius debauwi is a small schilbeid catfish, silvery white with a single dark stripe from gill to tail and a forked tail with pointed lobes. It reaches about 10 to 13 centimeters and is a shoaling midwater feeder taking small invertebrates. It is not known to breed in home aquaria. It is easily confused with its close relative Pareutropius buffei, which carries three stripes instead of one.

Did you know

Most fish sold as debauwi cats are really the three-striped Pareutropius buffei. The genuine Pareutropius debauwi wears a single stripe and reaches shops far less often, so the name on the tank is usually on the wrong fish.