Long-whiskered Catfish

About

The Long-whiskered Catfish (Sperata aor) is a serious fish for serious keepers. And even then, it pushes the boundaries of what's practical to keep long-term. Native to the major river systems of Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and upper Myanmar, it inhabits a wide range of habitats including rivers, lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. Its flattened, extended head gives it that distinctive shovel-nosed profile that superficially resembles some South American catfish species, though it belongs to the bagrid family and stands apart from all other members of that group. In the wild it's a predator, targeting smaller fish and worms, and that instinct carries directly into aquarium life. Anything that fits in its mouth is fair game. It's also territorial toward its own kind, so most keepers will need to house it alone unless they have truly enormous facilities and very large, robust tankmates like pacus or Pangasius. The honest reality is that adults can reach extraordinary lengths, and buying a cute juvenile without planning for its long-term needs is a mistake this species pays the price for. Breeding has not been documented in captivity, though wild reports describe a remarkable brooding behavior involving the male carrying eggs and early fry on specially adapted belly skin.