Butter Catfish

About

The Butter Catfish (Schilbe intermedius) is a sleek, silvery catfish native to an impressive range of African river systems and lakes, from the Senegal and Gambia basins in the west all the way through the Niger and Chad basins and beyond. In the wild it gravitates toward large rivers and open lakes, rarely venturing into smaller tributaries, and tends to stay in the upper and middle water column rather than hugging the bottom like many of its relatives. Schools migrate into flooded areas during the rainy season to spawn, giving you a sense of just how social and active this species naturally is. In the aquarium it stays true to that schooling instinct and really should be kept in groups of three or more. A lone individual tends to be more skittish and less interesting to watch. Feeding is straightforward since this fish has a broad carnivorous appetite in the wild, taking everything from small fish to insects and crustaceans, so meaty prepared and live foods are both accepted readily. One thing worth knowing is that this species can be somewhat susceptible to disease, so good water quality and a stress-free setup matter more than usual. It has a reputation for personality, with individual fish often developing their own quirks, which makes a school of them genuinely entertaining to keep long-term.