Electric catfish or Malapteruridae is a catfish family within the order Siluriformes. This family consists of two genera, Malapterurus and Paradoxoglanis, with 21 species.
This article will give an overview of Electric catfish for sale, size, tank size, care, facts, voltage, etc.
Electric Catfish profile
A number of species of this family have the flexibility to provide an electrical shock of as much as 350 volts utilizing electroplaques of an electrical organ.
Electrical catfish are present in tropical Africa and the Nile River. Electrical catfish are often nocturnal and carnivorous.
Some species feed totally on different fish, incapacitating their prey with electrical discharges, however, others are generalist backside foragers, feeding on issues like invertebrates, fish eggs, and detritus. The biggest can develop to about 1.2 m (Four ft) lengthy, however, most species are far smaller.
Electric catfish Description
The Malapteruridae are the one group of catfish with properly developed electrogenic organs; nonetheless, electroreceptive programs are widespread in catfishes.
The electrogenic organ is derived from the anterior physique musculature and features the body cavity.
Electric catfish shouldn’t have dorsal fins or fin spines. They’ve three pairs of barbels (the nasal pair is absent).
The swim bladder has elongate posterior chambers, two chambers in Malapterurus, and three in Paradoxoglanis.
Malapterurus have been conditioned by the use of reward to discharge on the sign. As reported within the New York Occasions, April 2, 1967, a researcher, Dr. Frank J. Mandriota of Metropolis School, New York, conditioned an M. electricus to discharge on a light-weight sign for a reward of residing worms delivered mechanically. That is the primary conditioning that changed neither glandular nor muscular responses.
M. electricus is able to produce and control the discharge of as much as 450 volts of electrical energy. It makes use of its energy to defend itself and to seize prey.
The electrical organ of the Electric catfish consists of modified muscle tissue and kinds a nice, gelatinous layer immediately beneath the mushy, bare pores and skin of the fish.
The electric catfish is hardy and, although pugnacious, is typically stored in house aquariums. It was pictured on tombs by the traditional Egyptians.
The biggest can develop to about 1.2 m (4 ft) SL and 20 kg (44 lb). Most Malapterurus and all Paradoxoglanis species are a lot smaller, reaching lower than 30 cm (1 ft) long.
Electric catfish Distribution
Africa: typical Sudanian distribution; happens in a lot of the Nile system (unique of Lake Victoria), Lake Turkana (Ref. 44050), Lake Chad and Senegal basins, Konkouré, all through the Niger system, and in smaller southward flowing basins in west Africa (rivers Sassandra and Bandama by way of Volta) (Ref. 44050, 57130).
Absent from the Congo basin; stories from the Congo basin discuss with any of the opposite species on this system (see Ref. 44050 for particulars).
Size / Weight / Age
Max size : 122 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 3850); max. published weight: 20.0 kg (Ref. 3799); max. reported age: 10 years
Life cycle and mating behavior
It’s assumed that the male tends the clutch. Others report that the male takes the eggs into his mouth. It’s also unknown how the fry is proof against the electrical shocks by the dad and mom
Short description
Dorsal spines (whole): 0; Dorsal mushy rays (whole): 0; Anal spines: 0; Anal mushy rays: 9 – 11; Vertebrae: 38 – 41.
Analysis: tooth patches slim; pectoral fin positioned close to body mid-depth; 7-8 branched caudal-fin rays; adults and younger marked with massive spots and blotches, some as much as 4-5 occasions an eye fixed diameter; caudal fin often well-spotted in adults; caudal saddle and bar sample poorly developed in all ages
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