Senegal kuhli cat

Amphilius rheophilus

Also known as Senegal mountain barbel

FreshwaterFish

Senegal kuhli cat (Amphilius rheophilus) — The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature: 70–79°F (21–26°C)
pH: 6.5–7.5
Adult size: 4.7 in (12 cm)
Minimum tank: 30 gal (112 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Solitary
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: No record
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Upper Senegal and Gambia drainages, West Africa
Family: Amphiliidae

Overview

This is a peaceful, nocturnal river catfish that should be kept singly rather than in a group. By day it lies still and mottled against stone, and after dark it patrols the bottom for food, so a dim tank with sand, smooth cobbles, and plenty of shaded crevices suits it. What it really wants is current and oxygen rather than heat, and it leaves alone any tankmate too large to eat. Offer sinking foods in the evening: pellets, frozen bloodworm, tubifex, and small pieces of prawn. Give it a flowing tank of at least 112 litres.

In the wild

It works rocky riffles and fast runs in the upper Senegal and Gambia drainages of West Africa, holding position in quick, well-oxygenated water. Match that with brisk flow, a temperature of about 21 to 26 degrees Celsius, and a near-neutral pH of 6.5 to 7.5. A bed of sand and rounded stones with some driftwood gives it the broken current and cover it needs.

Good to know

A loach catfish of the family Amphiliidae, it reaches about 12 cm. Its name rheophilus means current-loving, and the fish is built to match, with low fins and a flattened body for gripping rock in fast water. It is not known to have spawned in captivity.

Did you know

Its scientific name is really a care instruction. Rheophilus is Greek for current-loving, and a tank without steady flow and high oxygen leaves this fish listless and prone to fading.