Shark catfish
Ariopsis seemanni
- Tank length
- 240 cmabout 8 ft (94 in)
- Group
- 5+
- Temperature
- 21–26 °C70–79 °F
- pH
- 6.5–8
- Adult size
- 30 cm12 in
- Lifespan
- 10–15 yrs
An active shoaling estuary fish that needs brackish then near-marine water as it grows; it eats small fish and has venomous spines.An active shoaling estuary fish that needs brackish then near-marine water as it grows; it eats small fish and has venomous spines.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- Irian Jaya rainbowfish
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Alligator gar
Alligator gar may eat Shark catfishAlligator gar may eat Shark catfish
- Altum angelfish
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Arapaima
Arapaima may eat Shark catfishArapaima may eat Shark catfish
- Atahualpa dwarf cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Chocolate zebra pleco
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
DiscusNo shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Dourada
Dourada may eat Shark catfishDourada may eat Shark catfish
- Elizabeth's dwarf cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Flowerhorn cichlid
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
Iridescent sharkIridescent shark may eat Shark catfishIridescent shark may eat Shark catfish
- Olga cory
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
Data used by the planner
| Temperature | 21–26 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.5–8 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Hardness (dGH) | 5–20 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · low confidence |
| Origin | Pacific coast estuaries, Mexico to Peru | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Beginner friendly | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Care level | advanced | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Activity | active | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Swimming level | middle | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Temperament | peaceful | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Nips fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Long fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Territorial | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lives in groups | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum group | 5 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Diet | carnivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lifespan (years) | 10–15 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Months to adult size | 24 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Safe with plants | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum tank length | 240 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |