Have you ever heard of this vibrant-colored marine species called Bumblebee Catfish? It is one of the most exotic species and is kept as a pet by many United States households. You will find two types of Bumblebee Catfish, Asian and South American. If it has a square spot at the base then it is most likely to be a South American bumblebee catfish which is also the most common one. Whereas, if it has a triangle spot then you have an Asian type. This species rarely comes out in the day and is popular for being a nocturnal catfish.
Bumblebee Catfish are more tolerant to be living alone rather than living in a group. A small group with other species would also be suitable for them. If you are planning to keep this striking species as a pet. You should know that the more bushes and plants you have in an aquarium, the more they would like to hide underneath them. Read the article further to know more facts about the diet, living, and habitat.
Bumblebee Catfish Size and Color
The body is more like a catfish and has an extended body with a flattened head. They have a body size of 2 to 3 inches or 5cm to 8cm and have black and yellow stripes on the body. The bumblebee catfish are mostly preferred by fish lovers because of their exotic colors and wide mouth with barbells just like a cat. Their big mouths help them to feed themselves on other small fish. In addition to that, some species even have long barbels pointing toward their pectoral fins. If you want to have this species at your home. Make sure you purchase these bumblebee catfish for sale from a trusted place online. Also, do not forget to see the difference between juvenile Pseudopimelodus or Batrochoglanis species and Microglanis sharing (Bumblebee catfish) as many people get confused while getting a bumblebee catfish.
Habitat and Care Facts
When it comes to the habitat, it requires a suitable tank with a minimum of 20-25 with a PH level of 6-7, and multiple hiding areas. You can add bushes, rocks, caves, etc. to make them feel safe as they love to stay in dark places. The soft acidic water suits them well and makes up a good environment with a temperature of 21-25°C. When you bring the bumblebee catfish to your home, make sure the aquarium has been adjusted according to their needs in order for them to survive. Also, make sure that you change the water of the tank every week or at least 25% to give them a healthy environment. Bumblebee catfish do not like an overcrowded environment, hence keep a group of as small as 5-6 individuals.
Bumblebee Catfish Feeding Care
This catfish species feed on small fish and insects as it is a carnivore. It is your ultimate responsibility to feed them correctly and on time. You should know the correct time schedule when they need to be fed. As mentioned above, the bumblebee catfish has a large mouth so it feeds on large food pellets you need to make sure that you do not overfeed them. This is the reason that it is not recommended to share the tank with smaller fish as they would feed them within no time. You can feed with small frozen food, river shrimp, larvae, and also cooked food such as prawns, beef hearts, earthworms, and bloodworms.
They love to feed at night so it is important to sprinkle the tank with the small sinking food granules at their feeding time. As they have a shy nature, they prefer to stay in dark areas during the daytime. If their food is present in the tank, they can also leave their spot to come out to be fed. Within a few days of bringing this pet home, you track its feeding timing. In this way, you can avoid adding extra food to their tank to avoid wastage. This does not only wastes food. You will also have to clean the tank and change its water more often than usual.
Conclusion
It is now clear that if you keep this catfish species in the aquarium. You won’t see it all the time as it likes to hide in dark places. The Bumblebee Catfish has a shy nature which is why it stays mostly at the base of the tank. Make sure you keep the tank clean in order to prevent any fungal infections. It is best to add some iodine solution to the water or consult with an expert in order to provide a perfect and clean environment. As long as the water is clean and the fish is getting on time. You will enjoy watching the fish in this lovely environment.
Bumblebee Catfish is very famous because of its sparkling color pattern. You will love to watch it when it will come out at night to eat food. If you are a person of aesthetics then bumblebee catfish is absolutely perfect for you.
