Care
The Eel-tailed Banjo Catfish is known from estuaries and the lower reaches of coastal rivers in fresh and brackish environments. The habitat typically consists of shallow turbid waters with soft, silty or muddy substrates in which they like to bury. These sedentary bottom-dwellers are best kept in a large, mature aquarium with neutral to slightly hard and alkaline conditions; indeed, they can even be acclimatised very carefully to moderately brackish waters. Soft, acidic environments should be avoided as these fish will not fare well under such conditions in the long-term. Provide a soft sand substrate (gravel must be avoided) 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 and do not add them in significant amounts as this could acidify the water. 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. Eel-tailed Banjo Catfish are peaceful towards their own kind and should be kept in groups. Tankmates must be chosen with care, as these catfish will eat small fish and shrimps (particularly any they find overnight, when they are at their most active and other tank inhabitants are resting) so ensure that companions are too large to fit into their mouths, but are still of a peaceful disposition e.g. some of the medium sized characins, rainbowfish, or livebearers. The presence of such fish swimming around in open water may even encourage these reclusive catfish out into view a bit more. In the case of the Eel-tailed Banjos being maintained in brackish aquaria, many of the usual non-aggressive brackish community fish will work well as tankmates. 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. No two fish share exactly the same pattern. May also be seen on sale as the Banded Banjo Catfish, Mottled Eel-tailed Banjo Catfish, or Whiptail Banjo Catfish.
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 Eel-tailed 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 not spawned in the home aquarium; however ,egg-carrying females have occasionally been imported and the eggs nurtured from there. Eel-tailed Banjo Catfish are capable of emitting a bark-like sound via quick movement of their pectoral fins - this sound is thought to aid the fish in locating each other in turbid waters during the mating season (as well as an aid to deterring predators). Spawning itself takes place in brackish waters, and there is a most unusual method of egg incubation. The female fish carries the eggs firmly attached to the underside of her body by short hair-like threads called cotylephores, and these are thought to be an adaptation that functions rather like an umbilical cord in mammals, providing the developing embryos with oxygen and nutrients (particularly useful in muddy environments). It is unclear whether the female fish is still incubating eggs when she migrates back upstream to freshwater, or whether they hatch in brackish water and the young make their own way back.
