Giant bumblebee catfish
Pseudopimelodus bufonius
Also known as Toad catfish, Giant bumble bee cat
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–82°F
- 23–28°C
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Adult size
- 9.8 in
- 25 cm
- Minimum tank
- 106 gal
- 400 L
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Pseudopimelodidae
- Origin
- Magdalena and trans-Andean drainages, Colombia
Overview
The giant bumblebee catfish is a heavy-bodied ambush predator for the bottom of a large, dim tank. It is a step up from the easiest fish.
Did you know
The giant bumblebee catfish's species name, bufonius, means toad-like, from the Latin bufo. The name fits a squat, wide-mouthed, blotchy catfish built to sit still and gulp down prey that blunders past its cave.
Caring for the giant bumblebee catfish
Give a single adult giant bumblebee catfish a tank of 106 gal (400 L) or more. It sits in cover by day and hunts at night, and secure hiding spots matter most. Furnish the tank with rockwork, a cave or hollow, driftwood and a soft substrate under dim light.
Keep the water soft, at 73 to 82°F (23 to 28°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Feed meaty foods such as whole frozen fish, prawn, mussel and earthworms.
The giant bumblebee catfish is solitary and predatory, so keep one per tank. It will eat any tank mate small enough to fit its wide mouth. House it only with large, robust fish, or on its own. Captive breeding of it is undocumented.
Good to know
Pseudopimelodus bufonius belongs to the family Pseudopimelodidae, with a broad, flattened head and a very wide mouth. It wears the yellow-and-dark banding of a bumblebee at ten times the size of the small bumblebee catfishes. It is also sold as the toad catfish.
In the wild
The giant bumblebee catfish lives in rivers of northern South America, including the Magdalena and other trans-Andean drainages of Colombia. It wedges itself among stones and submerged wood there, using the cover to ambush prey.
Common questions
What size tank does a giant bumblebee catfish need?
A giant bumblebee catfish needs at least 106 gal (400 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a giant bumblebee catfish need?
A giant bumblebee catfish is comfortable at 73–82°F (23–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
What does a giant bumblebee catfish eat?
A giant bumblebee catfish eats meaty foods such as whole frozen fish, prawn, mussel and earthworms. It sits in cover by day and hunts at night.
How big does a giant bumblebee catfish get?
An adult giant bumblebee catfish reaches about 9.8 in (25 cm).
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