AquaticRepublic.com - Malapterurus microstoma (Malapteruridae) All Fishes

Juvenile
Dorsal view

All Fishes Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Malapterurus microstoma** Poll & Gosse, 1969
Common Names	Dwarf Electric Catfish Zitterwels (Germany)
Type Locality	Yangambi, Congo River, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Pronunciation	mah lah TERR oo russ - my kro stow ma
Etymology	Malapterurus: From the Greek malakos, meaning soft, pteron, meaning fin and oura, meaning tail; presumably in reference to the adipose fin, which appears all the more prominent in the absence of the rayed dorsal fin. From the Greek mikros, meaning small and stoma, meaning mouth (or opening); in reference to the small mouth of this species.
Species Information
Size	555mm or 21.9" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	Easily distinguished by its narrow snout and tooth patches, and horizontally based pectoral fins placed low on the body.
General Remarks	Gut contents contained large amounts of detritus along with animal remains, suggesting that this species is a generalist bottom forager rather than a strict piscivore.
Habitat Information
Distribution	Africa: restricted to the Congo River system; absent from the lowland, central portion of the basin. African Waters, Congo (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 2009.
pH	6.0 - 7.0
Temperature	23.0-30.0°C or 73.4-86°F (Show species within this range)
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Feeds readily on all manner of frozen and live food. Will also take meaty food such as frozen meat but will only take prepared foods if nothing else is available. User data.
Furniture	A dimly lit tank with a suitably sized retreat - appears to prefer stone over wood.
Compatibility	Best kept alone, given its electrogenic ability.
Breeding	Possibly spawns in burrows along river banks and may exhibit brood care. Females are apparently not sexually mature until 40-50 cm SL.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Bulletin de l'Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique v. 45 (no. 38), pp 8, Pls. 1, 2 (fig. b), 3 (fig. b).
Registered Keepers	There is no registered keeper.
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 is but a single record of this fish being seen, view it.
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	Look up M. microstoma on PlanetCatfish.com
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	Look up M. microstoma on Encyclopedia of Life
	Look up M. microstoma on Global Biodiversity Information Facility
	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.16.46.101
Last Update	2025 Jan 01 12:19 (species record created: 2003 Oct 03 00:00)