Microglanis iheringi
| Common Names: | Bumblebee Catfish South American Bumblebee Catfish |
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| Family: | Pseudopimelodidae |
| Category: | Catfish_Bottom_Feeders |
| Distribution: | America - South; Rio Tumero, Venezuela |
| Main Ecosystem: | River; Fast flowing rivers |
| Temperament: | Reclusive; The bumblebee catfish will rarely come out at day, except for feeding time. Even then, it will only stay out a few minutes until the lights are turned off. This fish will hide in a hiding spot until feeding time or lights out. |
| Diet: | Carnivore; The Bumblebee Catfish is primarily a carnivore, and will eat a wide variety of foods that sink or reach to the bottom, such as prepared foods like flakes, and pellets. It will also eat a wide selection of frozen foods such as frozen bloodworms. Other foods, such as cooked seafoods (mussels, prawns, cod) and beefheart will be accepted too. |
| Care: | Many hiding places made of stone, driftwood, or plants will help this fish hide during the day. Dim lights are also reccomended and night feeds will greatly benefit it. |
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| Potential Size: | Male: 6cm (2.4") Female: 6cm (2.4") |
| Water Region: | Bottom |
| Activity: | Nocturnal; Will come out at night to feed |
| Gender: | Females are notcieably plumper than males. |
| Breeding: | Difficult; It is reported by a British Fishkeeper Des Penny that his catfish bred in 4.8-6 pH, with a temp of 22-25.5ºC. His feeding regime consisted of many rich foods, including shredded cod and coley (Pollock), prawns, mussels and cockles, oxheart, and feedings of live Daphnia, bloodworm and river shrimp. He also noted that it could have been the sudden drop in temperature from a 50% water change quickly rising again, the fact that his Characins were spawning at the same time, or the varied diet he was feeding his M. iheringi. |
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| Comments: | A great nocturnal bottom feeder that is suitable for even medium communities. Numerous fish stores have sold a few similar looking fish under the name Bumblebee Catfish. A commonly confused species is the Asian bumblebee catfish called Pseudomystus siamensis. This fish will get much larger and will eat small schooling fish. It can be identified by its different body pattern and shape, along with its extra pair of barbels (6 pairs in total). The South American bumblebee catfish distinguishes itself from other members of its genus (Microglanis poecilus, M. parahybae, and M. secundus) by its caudal fin markings (black line matching the curves of caudal fin). |
| Main Colours: | Black, Gold |
| Markings: | Striped Vertical |
| Mouth: | Normal |
| Tail: | Concave |
| Search: | Show similar species Find compatible species |
| Image Credit: | GobyFan2007 |
| Submitted By: | GobyFan2007 |
| Contributors: | GobyFan2007, Shinigami |
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