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his month we move on to the African continent and to a large predatory catfish which is indigenous to one of the Rift Valley lakes, Lake Malawi. You can also find this bagrid in some of the surrounding rivers such as the Shire and other connecting rivers. The Shire River was actually the spot where the first known specimen was recorded.

Bagrus meridionalis

One of the common names for this catfish is "Kampango" from the local Chichewa language and it is highly prized as a major food fish for the native population, as it grows to around the 5ft (150cm) mark, and so can be quite a challenge for the fishermen of Lake Malawi. It is served in the local restuarants wrapped in leek leaves and gently poached and placed on a bed of roasted vegetables.

As you can guess by now this is not a fish for your community tank as it will eat anything that it can fit into its mouth. You can of course keep it as a juvenile in a Rift Valley set-up containing cichlids from the lake as long as the occupants are larger than the catfish. When it gets to an adult size it would do better on its own in a very large tank but realistically it is a fish for the public aquarium when it gets to that size. Carsten Larsen from the Malawi Danish web site, www.Malawicarsten.dk, states below on how ferocious this Bagrid can be.

"It can be kept with cichlids from the lake without any problems, as long the Bagrus can't get the other fish in it's mouth. One of my Bagrus ate a Ancistrus sp. The Bagrus was 12cm and the Ancistrus around 9cm... This tells a lot about it's appetite and size of the "dangerous" end"

Bagrus meridionalis - (15.0cm juvenile)

There is a strange phenomenon involving the Hornet or bumblebee cichlid, Pseudotropheus crabro. It actually acts as a cleaner fish to Bagrus meridionalis in the Lake and eats the parasites from the skin of the catfish including the fish lice Argulus africanus. There is a darker side to this relationship as well. This cichlid is an egg thief, it changes colour to a dark brown and sneaks past the "Kampango" to feed on the eggs of this Bagrid in the cave nest, if it’s seen, it returns to it’s striped colour and resumes cleaning duties, waiting for it’s next chance… In the U.K. the other common name for this Malawi species is the "Chameleon Cichlid" which tells you a little of its mode of dress!

Pseudotropheus crabro - (Hornet or bumblebee cichlid)

Kampango

Porcus meridionalis

Bagrinae

Africa: Shire River and Lake Malawi. Type locality: Upper Shire River (British Central Africa). (click for location  map)

150cm (5ft)

24-27°C (75-81°F)

7.5-8.2.

Head about twice as long as broad, with smooth texture. Dorsal fins widely separated.

Body Bronze/silver. Fins have a ruby colouration when reaching adulthood.

Not a fish for your community tank as it will eat anything that it can fit into its mouth. You can of course keep it as a juvenile in a Rift Valley set-up containing cichlids from the lake as long as the occupants are larger than the catfish. When it gets to an adult size it would do better on its own in a very large tank but realistically it is a fish for the public aquarium when it gets to that size

Very caring parents. Lays its eggs in a nest on bottom of lake and guards and feeds its young. The female also produces non-fertile eggs for its young to feed on which makes it a match for any parenthood properties that the cichlid population of this lake indulge in.

A nocturnal feeder on cichlids on rocky shores, and occurs from the lower reaches of rivers to the deepest habitable parts of the lake. It also feeds on mollusks, crabs and zooplankton.

Bagrus: From 'bagre', a South American name for a catfish, but is only used for African and Asian species.

Carsten, Larsen K.: www.Malawicarsten.dk.
Oliver, Mike: www.malawicichlids.com

Photo Credits

Top:                     © Mike Oliver: www.malawicichlids.com
Second & bottom:   © Carsten K. Larsen: www.Malawicarsten.dk.
Middle (P. crabro):  © Allan James @