Giant Devil Catfish

About

Found across river systems of the Indian subcontinent, the giant devil catfish (Bagarius yarrelli) is one of those species that belongs in a natural history discussion more than a home aquarium. Also called the sand shark and giant painted catfish, this massive sisorid catfish is heavily fished for food throughout its range and can reach lengths well beyond four feet in the wild. The body is broad and flattened in the typical torrent-catfish fashion, and the genus is notable for an unusual set of teeth in the lower jaw. Large, widely spaced conical fangs set behind rows of smaller ones, an arrangement seen nowhere else among related catfishes. Taxonomically the species sits in a genus that is overdue for a thorough revision, and some researchers consider it may eventually be lumped with the closely related Bagarius bagarius. In terms of keeping, this is a species for a very small number of dedicated private collectors with genuinely large-scale facilities. The thousand-gallon minimum tank requirement is not an exaggeration, and the fish does best when housed alone. It is not a question of difficult water chemistry or finicky feeding. It is simply a matter of scale and natural behavior. This one is worth knowing about, but almost certainly not worth attempting to keep.