AquaticRepublic.com - Batrochoglanis raninus (Pseudopimelodidae) All Fishes

Head-on view
Rio Caqueta, Brazil

All Fishes Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Batrochoglanis raninus** (Valenciennes, 1840)
Common Names	Bumblebee Jelly Catfish Frosch-Fettwels (Germany), Mørk Knurhårsmalle (Denmark)
Type Locality	Rio La Mana; near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Synonym(s)	Batrachoglanis raninus, Pimelodus raninus, Pseudopimelodus acanthochirus, Pseudopimelodus raninus, Pseudopimelodus raninus raninus
Pronunciation	ra nee nuss
Species Information
Size	200mm or 7.9" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	The colour pattern is basically a dark brown to black overall with a white to cream colour collar around the nape. A single white to cream coloured marking is also present on the body just above the lateral line and below the dorsal-fin. There is a a light coloured band (which may be incomplete) just fore of the caudal peduncle and a pair of light markings on the caudal peduncle. There is a light marking at the base of the adipose and the tip of the adipose is clear. Young specimens can be confused with members of Microglanis. Microglanis typically have much more extended light areas and the overall body is not as robust.
General Remarks	The vast majority of specimens in the aquarium hobby are exported from the Brazilian Amazon and these specimens rarely grow beyond 120 mm. According to Shibatta (an ichthyologist working on Pseudopimelodidae), ''Pseudopimelodidae can be considered the least known family of the naked Neotropical freshwater catfishes.'' Much more work is needed on this family. Given the great amount of size and coloration differences recorded for this ''species,'' and the wide distribution range reported, it is likely that this is either a very variable species or a collection of closely related species with similar cryptic colour patterns.
Habitat Information
Distribution	South America: Amazon River basin, Guyana and French Guiana. Guyana Waters, Coastal Rivers of Guyanas, Essequibo (click on these areas to find other species found there) Amazon (click on these areas to find other species found there) Orinoco (click on these areas to find other species found there) Amazon, Upper Amazon, Marañón (click on these areas to find other species found there) Amazon, Upper Amazon, Nanay (click on these areas to find other species found there) Amazon, Upper Amazon, Marañón, Ucayali (click on these areas to find other species found there) Amazon, Middle Amazon (Solimoes), Madeira, Madre de Dios (click on these areas to find other species found there) Login to view the map.
IUCN Red List Category	Least Concern , range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2020.
pH	5.4 - 7.4
Temperature	25.0-28.0°C or 77-82.4°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters	In general, the water should be soft with a gentle amount of current.
Husbandry Information
Feeding	In nature goes stalk-hunting, swallowing prey within its range. Starts feeding on microcrustaceans and aquatic insect larvae, then shifts it diet to fishes of notable size. In the aquarium all foods are accepted greedily. An opportunistic feeder that seems pleased to eat anything that it can fit in its wide mouth. One study of specimens from the wild showed their guts contained mainly seeds of plants growing the water's edge. User data.
Furniture	In nature, typically found over silty substrates or amongst concentrations of leaf litter. A variety of hiding places should be provided.
Compatibility	This fish will even try to consume larger tankmates that are thin bodied. Lee Finley reported a four inch specimen that ate a seven inch Farlowella even though it could only swallow the first three inches of its prey. Best kept with tankmates too large and fast to be eaten. Otherwise not an aggressive fish.
Suggested Tankmates	Medium size and larger tetras, cichlids, and other catfishes.
Breeding	Not reported.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Histoire naturelle des poissons v. 15, pp 157, Pl. 434
Registered Keepers	There is but a single registered keeper, view all "my fish" data.
Wishlists	Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list. There is no wish to keep this species.
Spotters	Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars! There are 5 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
Forum BBCode

	Look up B. raninus on PlanetCatfish.com
	Look up B. raninus on Fishbase
	Look up B. raninus on Encyclopedia of Life
	Look up B. raninus on Global Biodiversity Information Facility
	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.31.188.721
Last Update	2025 Jan 02 01:36 (species record created: 2001 Nov 11 00:00)