TankBud

Butter catfish

Ompok bimaculatus

Also known as Two-spot butter catfish, Indian butter catfish, Butter sheatfish

FreshwaterFish

Butter catfish (Ompok bimaculatus)

Care at a glance

Temperature
68–82°F
20–28°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
17.7 in
45 cm
Minimum tank
172 gal
650 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Rare
Family
Siluridae
Origin
Widespread across rivers of South and Southeast Asia.

Overview

The butter catfish is an active predator, more peaceful than many large catfish. It suits a keeper with some experience and a very large tank.

Did you know

Young butter catfish are so pale, shimmering and semi-transparent that the two dark shoulder spots seem to float on the body. Those spots give the fish the two-spot part of its name.

Caring for the butter catfish

Plan on a tank of at least 172 gal (650 L) for the butter catfish, since it grows to a fair size. Give it open swimming room, driftwood and cover, and keep the light dim so it stays confident.

Give it gentle flow and soft to neutral water, at 68 to 82°F (20 to 28°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. It is a keen feeder on meaty foods, such as fish, prawns, earthworms and frozen items. Over time it also takes sinking pellets.

The butter catfish will eat small fish, so keep it with tank mates too big to swallow. It can live alone, though a small group is better.

Good to know

Ompok bimaculatus is a silurid catfish with a slim, silvery, scaleless body, a long anal fin and long barbels. Aquarium fish are often smaller than the full adult size. It is an important food fish across its range and is farmed in parts of Asia. It is also called the two-spot butter catfish, Indian butter catfish or butter sheatfish.

In the wild

The butter catfish is widespread in rivers, canals and floodplains across South and Southeast Asia. It hangs in midwater and along the bottom, and it hunts at dusk.

Common questions

What size tank does a butter catfish need?

A butter catfish needs at least 172 gal (650 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a butter catfish need?

A butter catfish is comfortable at 68–82°F (20–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a butter catfish eat?

A butter catfish is a keen feeder on meaty foods, such as fish, prawns, earthworms and frozen items. Over time it also takes sinking pellets.

How big does a butter catfish get?

An adult butter catfish reaches about 17.7 in (45 cm).

Related species