Habitat:
Amphilius natalensis occurs
among cobbles and rocks in swiftly flowing water.
Active at night, feeding on benthic stream invertebrates
such as mayfly and midge larvae. Reproduction:
Breeds in summer. Iteroparous, with asynchronous ovarian
development. Colour: Some individuals
are uniform olive-brown dorsally, others have an intense
dark spotting superimposed (Jubb, 1976). Aquarium
Care: Can be kept in aquaria with a small
grained gravel or sand substrate, and well planted
with a slight current to facilitate their natural
habitat. Provide rockwork and caves. This genera prefer
cooler temperatures in the aquarium. Diet:
Mosquito larvae, Tubifex, Cyclops, Daphnia, grindal
worms, vegetable food, tablet and flake. Remarks:
Preyed upon by trout and is now scarce in certain
streams.
Common
Name:
Natal mountain catfish
Synonyms:
None
Family:
Amphiliidae
Distribution:
Africa:
Ruo River, Malawi; Zambezi system of Zimbabwe, south
to Umkomaas River (Natal, South Africa). Type
locality: Krantz Kloof, Natal.
Size:
12.5cm (5ins)
Temp:
20-24°c
(67-75°f.)
p.H.
6.5-7.5.
Reference:
Skelton, P.H. and G.G.
Teugels, 1986. Amphiliidae. p. 54-65. In
J. Daget, J.-P. Gosse and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde
(eds.) Check-list of the freshwater fishes of Africa
(CLOFFA). ISNB, Brussels; MRAC, Tervuren; and ORSTOM,
Paris. Vol. 2. Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors.
2019. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication.
www.fishbase.org, ( 12/2019 ). Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2007. Checklist
of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes),
and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa
1418:1-628. Seegers, Lothar; The Catfishes of
Africa. A handbook for identification and maintenance.
Tetra Verlag GmbH. 604p.
Amphilius
natalensis From Bushmans
River (Tugela System), South Africa.
Amphilius
natalensis Dorsal view-from
Bushmans River (Tugela System), South Africa.
Amphilius
natalensis Ventral view-from
Bushmans River (Tugela System), South Africa.
Amphilius
natalensis Habitat
location
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