South American bumblebee catfish

Microglanis iheringi

Also known as Bumblebee catfish

FreshwaterFish

South American bumblebee catfish (Microglanis iheringi) — Micawberish · CC BY-SA 4.0

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
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Easy
Breeding: No record
Rarity: Common
Origin: Northern South America (Orinoco basin, Venezuela, Colombia)
Family: Pseudopimelodidae

Overview

Keep them in a tank of at least 75 liters with plenty of caves and crevices, since they are shy and forage along the bottom at night. They are mostly peaceful toward fish their own size, but they will eat anything that fits in that wide mouth, so keep them away from neon-sized tetras, fry, and shrimp. Water should run between 22 and 26 C, soft, and on the acidic to neutral side at a pH of 6 to 7.5. Feed sinking pellets, frozen bloodworms, and similar meaty foods after the lights go out, when they come out to hunt. Pick tankmates that are too big to swallow but calm enough not to bully a slow, secretive catfish.

In the wild

The South American bumblebee catfish comes from warm, slow streams and rivers in the Orinoco basin across Venezuela and Colombia, where it tucks itself into shaded crevices and root tangles during the day. To match that, give them soft sand, a few caves, driftwood, and some shaded spots they can retreat into. Keep the water soft and slightly acidic, a pH from 6 to 7.5, with the temperature held between 22 and 26 C. Low light suits them, since they stay hidden until the tank goes dark.

Good to know

This is Microglanis iheringi, a small catfish in the family Pseudopimelodidae. Adults stay compact, around 8 cm, and a healthy fish can live several years. There are no reliable records of it breeding in home tanks, so almost every fish in the trade is wild caught. Do not confuse it with the brackish Asian bumblebee catfish, which is a different fish with different needs.

Did you know

The blotchy brown and cream banding is camouflage, not decoration. Pressed into leaf litter or sand it breaks up the fish's outline, which is how a slow, shy catfish avoids being noticed by day. You will often only spot one at feeding time once the lights are off.