Banjo Catfish

Banjo Catfish (Bunocephalus spp.)

Overview:

The Banjo Catfish is a unique, flat-bodied freshwater fish known for its incredible camouflage. It often resembles a piece of bark or leaf and will bury itself in the substrate, making it a fascinating but shy addition to peaceful aquariums.

Tank Size:

10–20 gallons (larger preferred for groups)

Temperament:

Peaceful, very shy

Best kept with calm, non-aggressive tank mates

Diet:

Carnivore

Eats sinking pellets, frozen foods (bloodworms, brine shrimp), and live foods

Water Parameters:

Temperature: 72–80°F

pH: 6.0–7.5

Soft to moderately hard water

Behavior & Notes:

Nocturnal—most active at night

Spends most of its time buried in sand or hiding

Excellent camouflage—can “disappear” in the tank

Slow-moving and easily outcompeted for food

Tank Setup:

Soft sand substrate (very important)

Driftwood, leaf litter, and hiding spots

Dim lighting preferred

Max Size:

~5–6 inches

Difficulty Level:

Easy to Moderate (main challenge is feeding)

Pro Tip:

Feed after lights out to ensure they get food—faster fish will outcompete them during the day.

Notes: Assortment includes a mix of colors and patterns; Exact colors and markings will vary; Stock photo used; fish received may differ.

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Domestic shipping only! Sorry, we cannot ship to anyone in Hawaii & Washington State.

We ship on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday via USPS Priority Mail. Once we get your order, we will ship it within 1 to 5 business days. For the safety of the animals, we do not ship aquatic life on Thursday and Friday. We do not want live aquatic animals sitting in USPS warehouse over the weekend. Thank you for your understanding.

Any orders placed before 12:00 PM on Tuesday will be shipped out that same week. orders placed after 12:00 PM on Tuesday will now be processed the following week

Male/Female: Will be picked at random (no custom orders)

Note: color may be slightly off from photo.

We placed a penny at the corner of the tank so you can have an idea of the size of the fish.

Guaranteed to arrive alive you have one hour of delivery to report any death. You must take a picture while the fish is dead in the bag before it’s opened.

Fish’s color might be off first 3 days due to shipping and stressed fish.

we do not refund shipping costs