Jaguar Catfish

The jaguar catfish is a driftwood catfish that lives up to its name with large, irregular dark brown blotches on a yellowish or orangey light brown background. It comes from blackwater, soft and acidic rivers such as the Rio Negro. It spends the day in hollows of sunken wood and hunts at night. Adults reach about 20 cm; every individual's pattern is different.

• At least 200 liters and 120 cm of length for a single adult.
• Root hollows or pipes it can fit into completely.
• 24–28°C, pH 5.5–7.0, soft water; dim light, dried leaves and tannin-stained water.
• Strong filtration and regular water changes.

Carnivorous. Offer frozen bloodworms, mysis, pieces of shrimp, worms and sinking carnivore granules. Put the food in during the evening; it rarely comes out for food during the day.

It does not attack other fish, but at night it eats any fish that fits in its mouth. It is almost never seen during the day. It lives without problems with larger, calm species.

Good companions: peaceful fish too big to fit in its mouth: large tetras, angelfish, calm American cichlids, large corydoras, plecos.

Avoid: small fish such as neons and rasboras, guppies, dwarf shrimp.