Banjo catfish
Bunocephalus coracoideus
intermediate careOverview
The banjo catfish (Bunocephalus coracoideus) is a wonderfully strange oddball, named for its broad, flattened head and thin tail that together resemble a banjo. Master of camouflage, it looks like a dead leaf or lump of debris and spends daylight hours buried in sand or hidden under wood, emerging only at night to forage. It is peaceful, hardy and long-lived — a rewarding curiosity for keepers who enjoy a fish that behaves more like a piece of the riverbed than a typical aquarium resident.
Tank & water
A single fish needs at least 75 litres (20 gallons) with plenty of floor space. Hold a moderate 20–26 °C with a gentle filter on stable, well-cycled water.
- Soft sand: essential so it can bury itself — see best aquarium sand and gravel and the substrate hub.
- Hides and wood: leaf litter, caves and driftwood give daytime cover.
- Dim, calm setup: subdued lighting and quiet flow suit its nocturnal nature.
Feeding
As a carnivore, the banjo catfish forages at night for small live and frozen foods. Offer sinking pellets, frozen bloodworm, tubifex and other meaty sinking foods after lights-out so it can find them without competition. See our best fish food picks. Because it is secretive, watch that it is actually eating and not being starved out by daytime feeders.
Tankmates
Peaceful toward anything it cannot swallow, the banjo catfish suits calm communities of medium tetras, barbs such as the tiger barb, rasboras and larger corydoras. Avoid tiny fish, fry and small shrimp, which it may eat at night, and skip aggressive tankmates. It ignores its tankmates entirely, keeping to the substrate.
Frequently asked questions
The banjo catfish is a hardy, peaceful oddity for keepers who value character over constant visibility. Give it soft sand to bury in and feed it after dark, and it will quietly thrive for many years.
Banjo catfish — frequently asked questions
Why do I never see my banjo catfish?
That's completely normal. Banjo catfish are nocturnal and spend the day buried in the substrate or wedged under wood, camouflaged as a dead leaf or piece of debris. They emerge to forage at night. If you want to see it, feed after lights-out and watch quietly.
Does a banjo catfish need sand?
Soft sand is strongly recommended. Banjo catfish bury themselves to rest and feel secure, and coarse or sharp gravel prevents that natural behaviour and can damage them. A layer of fine sand lets them do what they are built to do.
Will a banjo catfish eat my small fish or shrimp?
It can. Banjo catfish are carnivores that ambush small prey at night, so tiny fish, fry and small shrimp may be eaten. House it with tankmates too large to swallow and it is entirely peaceful otherwise.
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