Care
The Banjo Catfish is known from the Amazon River basin where it typically inhabits creeks, lakes, ponds, and rainforest streams. Here these secretive catfish will be found on (or buried in) the silty substrate, hiding motionless underneath dense leaf litter and fallen branches. These sedentary bottom-dwellers are best kept in a large, mature aquarium and are unfussy with regards to water chemistry providing extremes are avoided. Provide a soft sand substrate with plenty of shady hiding places amongst driftwood and rocky caves. As these fish prefer dim lighting, open expanses of sand in brightly lit tanks should be shaded with large, broad-leaved plants. These fish will usually remain partially buried during daylight hours, and the addition of dried leaf litter would further help to emulate the natural environment. However, be sure the leaves are non-toxic; Dried Indian Almond leaves (
Terminalia catappa) are ideal and are readily available. The addition of some form of blue moon lighting to the aquarium - which switches on just before the main lights go out - will allow you to spend time observing them under their preferred subdued illumination. Banjo Catfish are peaceful towards their own kind and should be kept in groups. Tankmates should be of similar size and disposition, and species such as
Corydoras, hatchetfish, pencilfish, and small tetras swimming around in open water may even encourage these reclusive catfish out into view a bit more. Observe carefully to ensure that none of the other fish are continually nipping away at the inactive, partially buried catfish. Good filtration along with frequent partial water changes are essential for keeping nitrogenous wastes to a minimum; however, the actual water flow within the aquarium should not be excessive.
Feeding
Offer a variety of small, meaty frozen foods such as bloodworm, white mosquito larvae, black mosquito larvae, vitamin-enriched brineshrimp, daphnia etc. as well as different sinking catfish pellets/granules. If there are other fish present in the tank, make sure your Banjo Catfish are not missing out, target feeding with frozen foods near their resting places using a baster if necessary, and offering some foods after lights out.
Breeding
This species has been bred in the home aquarium, but it is a fairly rare occurrence. Adults are said to be sexually mature once they reach 11cm or so. Spawning takes place at night, with eggs scattered on the substrate. The adults will predate on the eggs, so they will need moving to another tank set up with identical water parameters. The eggs, which could number into the thousands, should hatch within 3 days. Once the young have used up their yolk sacs, they can be offered tiny foods such as baby brineshrimp (
Artemia nauplii), microworm, and crushed catfish tablets.
