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
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

Treat this fish as a venomous animal first and an aquarium fish second, since a sting from its spines is a genuine medical emergency, so never handle it and take great care during maintenance. It is only reef safe with caution: it will not nip corals but hunts small fish, shrimp, snails, and other mobile invertebrates over the sand. Juveniles need to be kept in a group to feel secure, which means a large tank of at least 400 liters for a school that grows to a foot long. Feed meaty marine foods like mysis, chopped seafood, and pellets.

In the wild

The striped eel catfish is the only marine catfish widely seen in the trade, living over sandy and rubble bottoms of Indo-Pacific reefs, lagoons, and estuaries. Juveniles gather in dense, ball-shaped schools that swirl over the substrate, while adults spread out and become more solitary. It needs a mature marine tank with a sandy bed, plenty of rock cover, and stable full-strength saltwater at 24 to 28 degrees C.

Good to know

Plotosus lineatus reaches about 32 cm and is armed with highly venomous serrate spines in the first dorsal and each pectoral fin, capable of causing severe pain and, in rare cases, death. The eel-like body carries cream and dark brown lengthwise stripes that fade with age. It is amphidromous, moving between salt and fresh water at different life stages.

Did you know

The pretty striped juveniles that swirl in a tight ball on the reef are one of the most dangerous fish a diver can touch, since their venomous spines can put an adult in hospital.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

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.

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.

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