AquaticRepublic.com - Phractura ansorgii (Amphiliidae) All Fishes

All Fishes Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Phractura ansorgii** Boulenger, 1902
Common Names	African Whiptailed Catfish Roter Kaulquappenwels (Germany)
Type Locality	Agberi, southern Nigeria.
Pronunciation	frak TWO rah - an SORR jee eye
Etymology	Phractura: From the Greek phraktos, meaning fenced in and oura, meaning tail; in reference to the bony plates enclosing the slender caudal peduncle.
Species Information
Size	90mm or 3.5" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	Superficially resembles a homalopterid loach, hence the common name of ''loach catfishes'' for the family Amphiliidae.
Sexing	Females are larger, display banded pattern on body. Males are unbanded, but turn reddish at spawning time.
Habitat Information
Distribution	Africa: Lower Niger in Nigeria. Reported from Volta and Mono River, Togo. African Waters, Nigeria Waters, Niger, Lower Niger (click on these areas to find other species found there) Login to view the map.
IUCN Red List Category	Endangered , range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2019.
pH	6.2 - 7.2
Temperature	20.0-24.0°C or 68-75.2°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters	Clean, cool, well oxygenated water with ample plant cover.
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Live, frozen or freeze-dried bloodworms, tubifex, grindal worms, chironomid and other small larvae. Reported to also eat algae. User data.
Furniture	Best kept in a largish, shallow tank such as a 30-40 gallon breeder (120-150 l), with lots of plants, bogwood and hiding places, together with some open areas.
Compatibility	A peaceful fish. Several individuals can be kept together.
Suggested Tankmates	Smaller characins and cyprinids. Does not compete strongly for food, so best not kept with more aggressive or larger species.
Breeding	Successfully bred as early as the 1950s by Försch. Breeding report is summarized in Baensch, Vol. 3, and pictures of eggs and fry are reproduced in Burgess' Atlas.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1901, v. 2 (pt 2) (art. 7), pp 623, Pl. 37 (fig. 1).
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 no record of this fish being seen.
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	Look up P. ansorgii on Encyclopedia of Life
	Look up P. ansorgii on Global Biodiversity Information Facility
	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.24.125.362
Last Update	2025 Jan 02 01:38 (species record created: 2006 Dec 27 09:36)