- Feeder Fishes. Gulper cats are strict carnivores by nature, but that does not mean they do not benefit from the addition of some vegetable matter into their diet.
- Gutloaded Creatures. Generally, it is suggested that any gutloaded creature, whether it be fish, amphibian, insect, or worm should be offered to the predator within one hour after gutloading is ...
- Alternative Foods. Alternative foods are often recommended by highly successful keepers of these fish, basically whole seafood and other types of meaty diets.
Can you feed gulper catfish feeder fish?
After a period of 30 days, you can then offer the feeder fish to your Gulper Catfish. Another option would be to breed and raise your own minnows or goldfish to use as feeder fish. This practice would allow you to be certain that you are offering your Gulper Catfish the highest quality food that is free of disease.
How do you feed a gulper?
Through the gut loading process, you can add pellets or flakes to the feeder fish. Then within one hour, you ensure the gulper eats the feeder fish. Once gulpers get past the coaxing stage, feeding them becomes fun. You can also provide your gulper with shrimps, squid, and clams.
What do you feed a catfish that won t eat?
These catfish won’t willingly eat vegetables, so you’ll have to hide them in the feeder fish, a process known as gut loading. In gut loading, you feed flakes or pellets to the feeder fish and then feed the feeder fish to the Catfish Gulper within an hour.
What is the best tank mate for a gulper catfish?
I recommend sticking to a tank mate that is at least 3 or 4 inches larger than the Gulper Catfish. In addition to finding larger tank mates, you also need to stay away from fish that are aggressive and nip. Gulper Catfish have fins and barbels that are susceptible to injury around territorial fish.
Are gulper catfish hard to keep?
The quality of their water does not have to be perfect, but extremes need to be avoided. Large, frequent water changes are recommended and should be done as often as possible. Common sense is a hobbyist's best friend when it comes to keeping these amazing catfish.
How do you set up a gulper catfish tank?
1:219:51Gulper Catfish- Care Guide, Tips, Feeding! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThey water wise they prefer temperatures anywhere from 75 to 84 degrees mine. Right now is in 81MoreThey water wise they prefer temperatures anywhere from 75 to 84 degrees mine. Right now is in 81 point three degrees which as you can see he's very active.
Can gulper catfish see?
2:4910:50Feeding BIGGEST Gulper Catfish On YouTube!YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAfter eating their meal their stomachs are so expandable that they will bloat. Up. And swell like aMoreAfter eating their meal their stomachs are so expandable that they will bloat. Up. And swell like a balloon. Because they are capable of taking down a fish that is the same size as them.
Are gulper catfish cannibals?
The gulper catfish doubles in size after devouring its fishy dinner. The darker predator is known to hoover up fish, shrimp and earthworms but often goes for meals bigger than itself.
How do you take care of a catfish?
Catfish require warm water that's between 74 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit. Choose an aquarium heater with 5 watts of power for each gallon of water in the aquarium. A large aquarium may need a heater at either end. Wait 15 minutes after filling the tank before turning on the heater.
Do gulper catfish have teeth?
As the name suggests, this fish's most notable feature is it's extremely large, upturned mouth. These fish hail from the mighty Amazon river. At first look, they do not seem to have teeth. In reality their mouths are have rows of rough, sand-paper like bristles that help grab onto their meals.
What size tank do you need for a gulper catfish?
100 gallonsMore than anything, the gulper catfish aquarium should be big. Most who are familiar with the species recommend tank sizes of 100 gallons or more. Not only does the fish typically reach a respectable size of about 10 inches, it is said to attain lengths of 12 or 14 inches in some cases.
How big can a gulper catfish get?
The gulper catfish grows to a standard length of 25 cm (9.8 in), and a total length of 28.5 cm (11.2 in). It has a short, thick-set shape and is dark-colored with a whitish belly. People in its native range typically will not eat it because they consider it very ugly, but it is sometimes kept in aquariums.
Do gulper catfish have teeth?
As the name suggests, this fish's most notable feature is it's extremely large, upturned mouth. These fish hail from the mighty Amazon river. At first look, they do not seem to have teeth. In reality their mouths are have rows of rough, sand-paper like bristles that help grab onto their meals.
How big do bumblebee catfish get?
At a typical adult size of 6 inches (15 cm), it is a perfect bottom dweller for the medium to large aquarium and it is an excellent tankmate for most other fish that are too large to be considered prey. The Asian Bumblebee Catfish is generally peaceful, although it can be territorial with other bottom dwellers.
Species Summary
The Gulper Catfish is also known as the Ogre Catfish and is native to southern Central America and South America, most often spotted in Argentina in the basins of the Rio Negro and Rio Orinoco. They are used to living in slow-moving water.
Care Guide
Tank size: Although they are not the largest species of Catfish, a Gulper Catfish does need a generous 100-gallon tank in order to have space to grow and swim. They will become distressed in a tank that is too small.
Appearance
With a downturned mouth and whiskers, Gulper Catfish have a typical Catfish look.
Size
Gulper Catfish are not the largest species of Catfish, with an average size of 10 inches (25.4 cm).
Behavior & Temperament
Their predatory nature is the most notable behavioral trait of the Gulper Catfish.
Breeding
At home breeding of Gulper Catfish is not recommended, due to how violent they can be with one another. There have been no reported successful breedings of Gulper Catfish in home aquariums.
Gender Differences: Male vs Female
Male Catfish are smaller and more narrow than female Catfish, with females growing up to 1 inch larger than males.
What are Gulper Catfishes?
Gulper Catfish is an appealing predatory fish with a prehistoric appearance. It is a voracious predator and not hard to differentiate from other catfish species.
What do Gulper Catfish Look Like?
In appearance, the gulper catfish is bulky with an attention-grabbing smooth body. However, it is short and thick-set in shape.
How Big Does a Gulper Catfish Grow?
Gulper Catfish is quite large and requires lots of space. In some cases, a standard Gulper catfish measures about 10 inches (25 cm) and 12 inches (29cm).
What Do Gulper Catfish Eat?
Gulper catfish are carnivores and will love a meal involving feeder fishes better. They also feed on any other fish insight, as long as their prey fits into their mouth.
Gulper Catfish in an Aquarium
Keeping Gulper cats in an aquarium requires attention to detail. In addition, their aggressive and predatory nature needs proper management.
How to Breed Gulper Catfish
So, can you keep catfish in an aquarium? There has been no evidence of breeding gulper catfish in an aquarium successfully. It also does not mean you cannot give it a try to breed the gulper catfish. But understand that it will be a risky experiment.
General Care and Health of the Gulper Catfish
Gulper catfish need clean and well-maintained fresh water. So, it will help if you can change their water as often as needed.
Natural History
The gulper cat Asterophysus batrachus Kner, 1858 is a member of the family Auchenipteridae (driftwood or auchenipterid catfishes), which occur in rivers from southern Central America to extreme southern South America (specifically Argentina).
Native Range and Habitat
Asterophysus batrachus is a native of northern South America, specifically the Rio Orinoco and Rio Negro drainages of Venezuela and Brazil, respectively. Throughout its range, the gulper cat inhabits areas that are slow-flowing and abundant with submerged structure.
Space Requirements
At a total length (TL) of about 12 to 14 inches, the gulper cat is at home in moderately sized aquariums holding an average of about 100 gallons in volume.
Decoration and Substrate Selection
Due to the soft, sensitive (scaleless) skin of Asterophysus batrachus, it is typically advised to use a sparse approach to the tank’s overall decor.
Foods and Feeding
Gulper cats are strict carnivores by nature, but that does not mean they do not benefit from the addition of some vegetable matter into their diet. Of course, the problem of getting them to voluntarily ingest this material arises.
Tankmates
As a general rule of thumb, the use of tankmates in the gulper-cat aquarium is not recommended unless the prospective additions are significantly larger than the gulper cat itself.
Water Quality and Care
Most catfishes, gulper cats included, are not picky about the quality of their water. However, many other fishes are, and if the gulper cats are housed with other ornamental species then it will be in your best interest to maintain as healthy an aquarium as possible for them.
Gulper Catfish Facts & Overview
Appearance
- Gulper Catfish are classic-looking catfish, complete with the downturned mouth and whiskers. This particular species appears in a range of colors, from light brown to orange to black, with a white belly that appears distended after meals. Their skin is soft and velvety, and they have barbels that they use to find their way around since they have terrible eyesight. Attaining an aver…
Habitat and Tank Conditions
- Gulper Catfish need moderately large tanks in order to grow to their fullest potential, have enough swimming room, and not be crowded. In their natural habitat in Central and South America, Gulper Catfish are used to slow-moving waters with an abundance of wood, so they will appreciate an aquascape with driftwood of any type. Make sure the wood pieces are chunky and not sharp. Pr…
Care
- One of the best gifts you can give your Gulper Catfish is the gift of frequent water changes. Predatory fish and large fish produce an awesome amount of waste, and Gulper Catfish are both large and predatory. Dirty water increases levels of ammonia and nitrates, which puts the health of your Gulper Catfish at risk, as well as any other aquarium inhabitants. Gulper Catfish are prett…
Breeding
- There are no reports of successful breeding of Gulper Catfish in home aquariums. I do not recommend trying to breed Gulpers on your own.
Are Gulper Catfish Suitable For Your Aquarium?
- Some aquarists find Gulper Catfish to be captivating in appearance while others think they have a face only a mother could love. The semi-large fish is definitely 100% catfish. Every typical catfish quality that you can think of is present in Gulper catfish. True carnivores, Gulper Catfish need specific tank mates; they need to be protected from some fish and you’ll need to protect other fi…
FAQ
- Why won’t my Gulper Catfish eat veggie flakes or pellets? Feeding Gulper Catfish vegetables is not a lot different than feeding small children vegetables–you have to hide them. In the case of the Gulper Catfish, you have to hide these nutrients within the belly of their lunch: feeder fish. You have to feed flakes or pellets to the feeder fish, and then after the feeder fish have partially diges…
Species Summary
- The Gulper Catfish is also known as the Ogre Catfish and is native to southern Central America and South America, most often spotted in Argentina in the basins of the Rio Negro and Rio Orinoco. They are used to living in slow-moving water. Due to their size they can handle stronger currents, and you will want to mimic these stronger currents in the...
Care Guide
- Tank size: Although they are not the largest species of Catfish, a Gulper Catfish does need a generous 100-gallon tank in order to have space to grow and swim. They will become distressed in a tank that is too small. As well as volume, they also need a tank that is long enough to accommodate their swimming needs. A tank that is 72 inches long is recommended. Tank mate…
Appearance
- With a downturned mouth and whiskers, Gulper Catfish have a typical Catfish look. You can find them in a range of colors, from light brown to orange to black. They also have a white belly that appears distended after they’ve eaten. They have velvety skin, and because they have poor eyesight, they have barbels to help them find their way around. They also have relatively small fi…
Behavior & Temperament
- Their predatory nature is the most notable behavioral trait of the Gulper Catfish. As well as being aggressive with other fish, Gulper Catfish are aggressive towards their own species as well as other species of Catfish. The bigger their tank, however, the less aggressive and territorial they will be.
Breeding
- At home breeding of Gulper Catfish is not recommended, due to how violent they can be with one another. There have been no reported successful breedings of Gulper Catfish in home aquariums.
Gender Differences: Male vs Female
- Male Catfish are smaller and more narrow than female Catfish, with females growing up to 1 inch larger than males. Female Catfish also have bigger bellies than males, usually being 1 ½ inches wider. This is because they need more room to carry their eggs. However, male Catfishes have bigger heads than females, usually 1 inch larger. They also have longer and more brightly colore…
Fun Facts
- One of the oldest and longest living Catfish in the wild was found in the Mississippi River, and was believed to be 170 years old.
- Because they are bottom-feeders, Catfish can go as deep as 98ft to 230 ft (30-70 meters) to hunt for their food, and can swim at a speed of 2.6 miles per hour.
Natural History
Native Range and Habitat
Space Requirements
Decoration and Substrate Selection
Foods and Feeding
- Feeder Fishes Gulper cats are strict carnivores by nature, but that does not mean they do not benefit from the addition of some vegetable matter into their diet. Of course, the problem of getting them to voluntarily ingest this material arises. One way to combat this issue is by gutloading live feeder fishes, such as goldfish or minnows, with a hig...
Tankmates
Water Quality and Care
Conclusion