African Sharptooth Catfish Care Guide
Clarias gariepinus is a very large air-breathing African catfish farmed for food; its size and aggression make it unsuitable for home tanks.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Clarias gariepinus, the African sharptooth catfish, is a very large air-breathing catfish found across Africa and the Middle East. FishBase records a maximum total length of 170 cm and weight up to 60 kg. It is a major aquaculture species, widely introduced for food production, and is listed in invasive-species databases where established outside its range.
Taxonomy
- Family: Clariidae
- Genus: Clarias
- Scientific name: Clarias gariepinus
- Describer: Burchell, 1822
Habitat
The species occupies quiet waters such as vegetated river and lake margins and isolated pools, often over soft muddy substrate. FishBase lists a wide temperature tolerance of 8–35 °C, pH of 6.5–8.0 and depths to 80 m. Accessory breathing organs allow it to tolerate poor water quality and survive in shallow mud.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 1500 L
- Temperature: 22–26 °C
- pH: 6–7.5
- GH: 2–15 °dGH
- Adult size: 100–170 cm
- Lifespan: 5–10 years
Diet
Clarias gariepinus is a carnivorous omnivore with a trophic level near 3.8. It is a bottom feeder that occasionally feeds at the surface, taking crustaceans, insects and fish as well as young birds, carrion and plant matter. Captive feeding is typically offered once daily.
Compatibility
An aggressive, nocturnal, bottom-dwelling predator. Its size and temperament make it unsuitable for community aquaria; small fish and shrimp would be eaten. It is typically kept in aquaculture or very large facilities.
Breeding
The species spawns mostly at night in shallow areas, matures readily in captivity and grows rapidly, which underpins its use in aquaculture.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern, assessed 20 June 2018.
Breeding Clarias gariepinus
Overview
Clarias gariepinus, the African sharptooth catfish, is a very large clariid native throughout Africa and the Middle East and introduced to several other regions since the early 1980s. It reaches up to 1.7 m and 60 kg. It is a major aquaculture food fish, valued for fast growth, tolerance of poor water and high stocking densities. According to Wikipedia, it matures relatively easily and reproduces in captivity, naturally reproducing without requiring hormone treatment, which is part of why it is favoured for aquaculture.
Conditioning
Reproduction is tied to flooding. Spawning mostly takes place at night in the shallow, inundated areas of rivers, lakes and streams. Rising, warm water and access to newly flooded shallows are the natural conditioning triggers; because the species spawns readily, hormone induction is not required.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Before courtship, males engage in highly aggressive encounters. During mating the male lies in a U-shape curved around the head of the female, a position held for several seconds. Eggs and milt are released, after which the female's tail movement distributes the eggs broadly over the spawning site. Pairs rest between mating cycles, ranging from seconds to several minutes.
Egg & Fry Care
Development of the eggs and larvae is rapid: the larvae are capable of swimming within 48 to 72 hours after fertilization. No parental care is provided beyond selection of the spawning site.
Common Challenges
Home reproduction is not a realistic goal because of the fish's enormous adult size and aggression. Reliable reproduction occurs in aquaculture facilities and natural flooded habitats rather than in aquariums.