Phractolaemus ansorgii

Coler

Coler

AC Members
Jan 30, 2007
7,291
3
62
47
These are a very interesting (or wierd) little fish...the mouth is located above the eyes on a little extendable nozzle...they have a primitive organ which allows them to breath air and occasionally will swim to the surface to take air from there...they're quite bichir like in appearance, and prop themselves up on a pair of thoracic ventral fins in the manner of a bichir. They're the only fish in their genus.

for a giggle you can check out this thread where I mis-identified them as lophiobagrus catfish (hence their presence in my rift lake tank)...there are some pics there too http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=110399&page=2&highlight=lophiobagrus

I was wondering if anyone has ever kept them ?

I tried to catch mine most unsuccessfully (they are highly elusive and nocturnal).

According to fishbase.org their diet is detritus and plants...I have no plants...

I thought mine were dead and was putting off the inevitable of going in to look for them but both surprised me with a swim around the tank this evening...they have grown and look absolutely healthy - not in the least bit skinny. Is it possible they are surviving on detritus in the tank ? I hope so...because you never see them come near a bit of food...I've had them for a couple of months now.

edit : they are sometimes called hingemouth or african mudfish
 
Last edited:
I would if I could but I can't lol

I put down some spirulina tablets every 3 days or so - I hope they're finding them. I read on fishbase that their adult diet is algae & detritus...I do have algae growing on my rocks and some on the sides/back of the tank so hopefully they're grazing away.

Based on their behaviour they quite clearly do not require a bundle of energy.
 
bit of a bump

I'm pretty interested that it doesn't appear anyone else has these guys. Mine seem to be doing fine, albeit I never really see them except for glimpses at nigh.
 
I've never seen those before.

However, I have heard of catfish keepers (a number of the people on planetcatfish and surely others too) who keep super elusive fish, never see them eat, and every couple of months see bigger, healthy looking fish.
 
lol that is exactly like my guys. I feared for them for a good while; expecting to catch an ammonia spike and relate it to death of one of them; just about then I get a glimpse
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom