Gulper catfish
Asterophysus batrachus
- Tank length
- 66 cm26 in
- Start with
- 1
- Temperature
- 24–29 °C75–84 °F
- pH
- 5.6–7
- Adult size
- 22 cm9 in
- Lifespan
- 10–15 yrs
Can swallow fish as large as itself, so keep it alone or only with much bigger robust fish.Can swallow fish as large as itself, so keep it alone or only with much bigger robust fish.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- Acei cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- African butterfly cichlid
Gulper catfish may eat African butterfly cichlidGulper catfish may eat African butterfly cichlid
- Agassiz's cory
Gulper catfish may eat Agassiz's coryGulper catfish may eat Agassiz's cory
- Ajamaru rainbowfish
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
Amano shrimpGulper catfish may eat Amano shrimpGulper catfish may eat Amano shrimp
- American flagfish
Gulper catfish may eat American flagfishGulper catfish may eat American flagfish
- Angfa rainbowfish
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Arfak rainbowfish
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
Assassin snailGulper catfish may eat Assassin snailGulper catfish may eat Assassin snail
- Bandit cory
Gulper catfish may eat Bandit coryGulper catfish may eat Bandit cory
- Batanta rainbowfish
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Black kuhli loach
Gulper catfish may eat Black kuhli loachGulper catfish may eat Black kuhli loach
Data used by the planner
| Temperature | 24–29 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
|---|---|---|
| pH | 5.6–7 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Hardness (dGH) | 1–15 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Origin | Rio Negro and Orinoco basins | 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 | sedentary | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Swimming level | bottom | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Temperament | predatory | 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 | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum group | 1 | 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 | 18 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Safe with plants | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |