TankBud

Striped eel catfish

Plotosus lineatus

Also known as Coral catfish, Striped catfish, Barber eel

SaltwaterFish

Striped eel catfish (Plotosus lineatus)
Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–82°F
24–28°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Adult size
12.6 in
32 cm
Minimum tank
106 gal
400 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Rare
Reef safe
Reef safe with caution
Family
Plotosidae
Origin
Ranges across Indo-Pacific reefs and estuaries, with juveniles entering brackish and fresh water.

Overview

The striped eel catfish is the only marine catfish widely seen in the trade. It is a venomous schooling fish for the sand bed of a large tank, and it is for experienced keepers only.

Did you know

The pretty striped juveniles are among the most dangerous fish a diver can touch on the reef. Their venomous spines can put an adult in the hospital.

Caring for the striped eel catfish

Treat the striped eel catfish as a venomous animal first and an aquarium fish second. A sting from its spines is a genuine medical emergency, so never handle it and take great care during maintenance.

Juveniles need a group to feel secure, so keep striped eel catfish as a school. A school needs a mature marine tank of at least 106 gal (400 L), with a sandy bed and plenty of rock cover. Hold the saltwater stable at full strength, at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) and a pH of 8.1 to 8.4.

Feed meaty marine foods such as mysis, chopped seafood and pellets. The striped eel catfish is mostly peaceful and will not nip corals. It is still reef safe only with caution, because it hunts small fish, shrimp, snails and other mobile invertebrates over the sand.

Good to know

Plotosus lineatus carries highly venomous serrate spines in the first dorsal fin and in each pectoral fin. A sting can cause severe pain and, in rare cases, death. The eel-like body has cream and dark brown lengthwise stripes that fade with age. It is amphidromous, moving between salt and fresh water at different life stages. It also goes by coral catfish, striped catfish and barber eel.

In the wild

The striped eel catfish lives over sandy and rubble bottoms on Indo-Pacific reefs, in lagoons and in estuaries. Juveniles gather in dense, ball-shaped schools that swirl over the substrate. Adults spread out and become more solitary.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The striped eel catfish is a mostly peaceful, schooling species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a striped eel catfish need?

A striped eel catfish needs at least 106 gal (400 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a striped eel catfish need?

A striped eel catfish is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.

What does a striped eel catfish eat?

A striped eel catfish eats meaty marine foods such as mysis, chopped seafood and pellets. It also hunts small fish, shrimp, snails and other mobile invertebrates.

How big does a striped eel catfish get?

An adult striped eel catfish reaches about 12.6 in (32 cm).

Does a striped eel catfish need a group?

Yes. A striped eel catfish is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.

Related species