Banjo Catfish

Bunocephalus coracoideus is the most widely traded member of the Aspredinidae, a family of highly specialised, dorsoventrally flattened catfish. Found across a broad range of the Amazon basin, it inhabits shallow, sandy, or silty areas in slow-moving or standing waters where it buries itself almost completely beneath the substrate surface. Its warty, textured skin and mottled brown patterning provide extraordinary camouflage.

In the aquarium, the Banjo Catfish is almost never visible — it buries itself in fine sand or hides beneath leaves and flat rocks, and will remain completely stationary for hours. It becomes active after dark, moving slowly across the substrate in search of organic matter, worms, and small invertebrates. Despite its sedentary appearance it can move with surprising speed when disturbed.

Bunocephalus coracoideus is entirely peaceful and harmless to all tankmates. It is best kept in an aquarium with a deep layer of fine sand into which it can bury, along with leaf litter and minimal lighting. Feed with sinking carnivore pellets and frozen bloodworm placed after dark directly onto the substrate near the fish's resting location.

Water: 20–27°C, pH 5.5–7.5, soft to moderately hard (GH 2–15). Tank: 80 L minimum; deep fine sand substrate essential for burying; leaf litter; very dim lighting. Feeding: Sinking pellets, frozen bloodworm, tubifex, earthworm sections; place food near resting spot after dark. Breeding: Eggs deposited on the substrate; female carries eggs on her belly until hatching; rarely bred in captivity. Compatibility: Completely peaceful; compatible with all community fish; vulnerable to being outcompeted for food.