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Three-striped African catfish

Pareutropius buffei

Also known as Three Striped African Glass Catfish, Swallowtail Glass Cat

FreshwaterFish

Three-striped African catfish (Pareutropius buffei)
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Care at a glance

Temperature
75–82°F
24–28°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
3.1 in
8 cm
Minimum tank
20 gal
75 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Egg scatterer · Hard
Rarity
Rare
Family
Schilbeidae
Origin
Nigeria, Niger, Benin, Mali

Overview

The three-striped African catfish is a small catfish that swims in open water instead of resting on the bottom. It is a step up from the easiest fish.

Did you know

The three-striped African catfish almost never stops swimming. It patrols open water in a tight group, flicking its tail as it goes.

Caring for the three-striped African catfish

Keep three-striped African catfish in a shoal of at least six. Kept alone or in twos they hide and refuse food, so a group is essential to their wellbeing. Give a shoal at least 20 gal (75 L), with open midwater space and some planting or driftwood around the sides. Fit a secure lid, since this lively fish can jump when startled.

Hold the water at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5, clean and well oxygenated. A gentle to moderate current suits its active swimming. Offer small foods that spread through the water, such as frozen bloodworms, daphnia, brine shrimp, and fine flakes or micro pellets.

The three-striped African catfish is completely peaceful and suits a lively community of small, calm fish. Unlike most of its relatives, it has been bred in aquariums, though breeding it is hard. A pair scatters up to about 100 eggs among plants in the early morning, and they hatch in roughly three days.

Good to know

The three-striped African catfish, Pareutropius buffei, is a member of Schilbeidae, the African glass or butter catfishes. It has a slim, silvery, semi-transparent body marked with three dark horizontal stripes, and a deeply forked tail.

In the wild

The three-striped African catfish comes from the rivers of West Africa, across the Niger basin through Nigeria, Niger, Benin and Mali. It shoals there in warm, flowing, open water.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The three-striped African catfish is a peaceful, schooling species that keeps to the middle. 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 three-striped African catfish need?

A three-striped African catfish needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a three-striped African catfish need?

A three-striped African catfish is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a three-striped African catfish eat?

A three-striped African catfish eats small foods that spread through the water. Offer frozen bloodworms, daphnia, brine shrimp, and fine flakes or micro pellets.

How big does a three-striped African catfish get?

An adult three-striped African catfish reaches about 3.1 in (8 cm).

Does a three-striped African catfish need a group?

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

How does a three-striped African catfish breed?

Three-striped African catfish have been bred in aquariums, though it is hard. A pair scatters up to about 100 eggs among plants in the early morning. The eggs hatch in roughly three days.

Related species