South American bumblebee catfish
Microglanis iheringi
Also known as Bumblebee catfish
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–79°F
- 22–26°C
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Adult size
- 3.1 in
- 8 cm
- Minimum tank
- 20 gal
- 75 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Pseudopimelodidae
- Origin
- Northern South America (Orinoco basin, Venezuela, Colombia)
Overview
The South American bumblebee catfish is a small, shy bottom dweller with a big mouth. It is easy to keep with the right tank mates.
Did you know
The South American bumblebee catfish's blotchy brown and cream banding is camouflage, not decoration. Pressed into leaf litter or sand, it breaks up the fish's outline, so a slow, shy catfish avoids being noticed by day.
Caring for the South American bumblebee catfish
Give South American bumblebee catfish a tank of at least 20 gal (75 L), with soft sand, driftwood and plenty of caves and crevices. Add some shaded spots they can retreat into, and keep the light low. They are shy and stay hidden until the tank goes dark, then forage along the bottom.
Keep the water soft and acidic to neutral, at 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Feed sinking pellets, frozen bloodworms and similar meaty foods after the lights go out, when they come out to hunt.
They are mostly peaceful toward fish their own size, but they will eat anything that fits in their wide mouths. Keep them away from neon-sized tetras, fry and shrimp. Pick tank mates too big to swallow but calm enough not to bully a slow, secretive catfish. There are no reliable records of them breeding in home tanks.
Good to know
Microglanis iheringi is a small catfish in the family Pseudopimelodidae, and a healthy fish can live several years. Almost every fish in the trade is wild caught. It is a different fish from the brackish Asian bumblebee catfish, which has different needs.
In the wild
The South American bumblebee catfish comes from warm, slow streams and rivers in the Orinoco basin, across Venezuela and Colombia. By day it tucks itself into shaded crevices and root tangles.
Common questions
What size tank does a South American bumblebee catfish need?
A South American bumblebee catfish needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a South American bumblebee catfish need?
A South American bumblebee catfish is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
What does a South American bumblebee catfish eat?
A South American bumblebee catfish eats sinking pellets, frozen bloodworms and similar meaty foods. Feed it after the lights go out, when it comes out to hunt.
How big does a South American bumblebee catfish get?
An adult South American bumblebee catfish reaches about 3.1 in (8 cm).
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