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Goonch catfish

Bagarius bagarius

Also known as Dwarf goonch, Sand shark catfish, Indian Devil Cat

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–79°F (22–26°C)
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
7.9 in (20 cm)
Minimum tank
53 gal (200 L)
Temperament
Aggressive
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
Tankmates with caution
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Rare
Origin
South and Southeast Asian big rivers
Family
Sisoridae

Overview

The goonch sold in the aquarium trade is the small one, reaching around 20 centimeters rather than the two meters the name suggests. It is still a predator: house it with fish too large to swallow, over sand with smooth stone and real flow, and feed frozen and prepared meaty foods after dark. A 200 liter tank with strong circulation suits an adult. If you want the giant, that is Bagarius yarrelli, and it is a public aquarium animal rather than a home one.

In the wild

Bagarius bagarius lives in fast, clear stretches of the large rivers of the Indian subcontinent and Indochina, holding position on the bottom among boulders and gravel in strong current. Keep it at 22 to 26 degrees Celsius and pH 6.0 to 7.5, with high oxygen and turnover.

Good to know

Size in this genus is genuinely unresolved. SeriouslyFish records that the fish widely traded as Bagarius bagarius reaches about 200 millimeters standard length, while material catalogued under the name from the Indian subcontinent has been reported to two meters, and the two are probably different species awaiting formal review. FishBase's own page carries a note that its records here are mixed with other species. It is separated from B. yarrelli by the pelvic-fin origin sitting forward of the last dorsal-fin ray base rather than behind it.

Did you know

River legend blames giant goonch for haunting burning ghats; the real fish needs no folklore to be formidable.

Common questions

What size tank does a Goonch catfish need?

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

What temperature and pH do Goonch catfish need?

Goonch catfish are comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

How big do Goonch catfish get?

An adult Goonch catfish reaches about 7.9 in (20 cm).

Where to buy

Some links may not be the exact species or variety.

…or ask your local fish store.

Appears in

Freshwater fish · Advanced fish · Bottom dwellers

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