Banjo Catfish

About

The banjo catfish (Bunocephalus knerii) is one of those fish that looks less like a living creature and more like a piece of waterlogged bark. Which is, of course, exactly the point. Native to the western Amazon River basin in South America, this small catfish has a flattened, rough-textured body with a long slender tail that gives the whole fish its namesake banjo silhouette. It spends the vast majority of its time pressed against the substrate or tucked among leaf litter and debris, barely moving during daylight hours. Come nightfall, it becomes considerably more active, foraging along the bottom for whatever it can find. Like others in its genus, it has the ability to breathe air when water conditions demand it, which speaks to the challenging, oxygen-variable environments it can encounter in the wild. In the aquarium, a soft substrate is important since this fish likes to partially bury itself, and a well-decorated tank with hiding spots will help it feel secure. It is peaceful toward tankmates but easily overlooked and can be outcompeted at feeding time if kept with more aggressive species. Patience is key. This catfish rewards keepers who enjoy watching subtle, understated behavior rather than constant activity.