Pareutropius
buffei (Gras,
1961)
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egular visitors to ScotCat and of my monthly factsheet
series will probably surmise that I like a mystery or two and
this months (Nov.2000) offering is no different, so hold on for
another bumpy ride!.
This member of the Schilbeidae family of glass
catfishes has a rather mysterious past as far as the aquatic
hobby is concerned.The fish we now know as P.buffei was
thought not too long ago to be Eutropiellus debauwi
and the common name given to it was the “Debauwi Cat”
and this fish, buffei that is, is still labeled with
this common name in the aquatic trade. At one time
we knew the two fish as Eutropiellus buffei/debauwi but
the genus name of Pareutropius has now been given to
these two African Glass Cats.
Below I have included line drawings of the two species for identification.
Nine times out of ten you will have buffei as P.debauwi
is rarely imported from the wild.
Pareutropius
buffei.
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Pareutropius debauwi.
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P.debauwi has this second body stripe missing and a more
pointed caudal fin but not such a big difference as the two
drawings show. I also find that it is not such a colourful fish
as buffei.
You will also notice that P. buffei has a blotch on each
caudal fin whereas P.debauwi has not and a dark edge
shows to the adipose fin of P. debauwi.
Now after all that mystery how do we keep this Glass Catfish.
You will need to purchase at least 6 of this species as they
are a schooling fish and need their own company. If you only
buy one or two they will hide and waste away, but apart from
that they are easy to keep and seem to live for a considerable
length of time if given a spacious tank with a good water current
and the undertaking of water changes when needed.
Pareutropius buffei
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Pareutropius debauwi
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As mentioned earlier they are a schooling species and
they swim mid to low water, head up and moving their caudal
fin back and forward. They are not timid when feeding time comes
around as they love their food and if you ever want to catch
this fish to show at a fish show this is the ideal time to catch
them as their minds are very occupied when it comes to lunch. In
saying that they are not a very good show fish as they tend
to sulk in a show tank and don't show themselves of to the best
of their ability.
Small dorsal fin and long anal fin. Compressed body. Two midlateral
body stripes, the lower one reaching the insertion of the anal
fin. Two blotches on caudal fin.
Body colour sivery. A dark grey/brown line along the back from
snout to caudal base. A dark grey/black broad stripe extends along
the lateral line continueing through to posterier edge of caudal
fin. A second oblique dark stripe extends from the posterior edge
of caudal fin. A second oblique dark stripe extends from the posterior
border of the operculum to above the vent. A dark, sometimes elongate
spot on the upper and lower lobes of the caudal fin. Base of anal
fin marked with a thin dark line. The three pairs of barbels are
colourless and difficult to see.
Easy fish to keep in a shoal with non-aggressive
species.
| Sexual
differences |
The females of this species are usually a
little bit plumper than the males.
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| Breeding |
Has been bred, but only occasionally. They scatter their eggs
of up to 100 amongst the plants. Remove the parents as they will
eat the eggs. The eggs will hatch in three days and when they
have used up their yolk sac you can feed brine shrimp and micro
worm. They are a fast growing species.
In my experience thay will eat anything but they do love frozen
bloodworm and any live food such as Daphnia and Cyclops. Feed
also a good quality flake food.
| Etymology |
Pareutropius :
Para = beside; eutropia = well-fed.
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| Glossary
of Terms: |
Operculum :
The bony covering of the gills of fishes.
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| Reference |
Baench, Aquarium Atlas 2
Catfish
Study Group (U.K.) Information Sheet 20.
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| Photo
Credits |
Aqualog Verlag, from the book Aqualog
Photo Collection 1 and is therefore copyright
to this publication.
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