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No federal permit to keepAngler catfish
Chaca bankanensis
Fishes › Catfish (Siluriformes) › Chacidae (Angler catfish)
Chaca bankanensis is a species of angler catfish found in the Sundaland region, where it occurs in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.
Care at a glance
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 30 in long and 15 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 7.9 in / 20 cm).
- Water: Freshwater.
- Temperature: 75–82°F (range recorded for this species).
- pH: 6–7.2.
- Hardness: 0–10 dGH.
- Layout: Lives on or near the bottom: floor space and hiding places matter more than height.
- Diet: A predator: feed meaty foods sized to its mouth (frozen fish, shrimp, worms); it will eat tankmates that fit in its mouth. FishBase classes it as a carnivore.
Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.
Care guide
Species care notes
- Water: a fairly wide range, from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, 72–79 °F, pH 6–8, 3–10 dGH.
- Behaviour: temperament predatory; not a community fish.
- Difficulty: Moderate (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “A dimly-lit tank suits this sedentary species.”
- Diet: “It is sometimes possible to wean young specimens onto dried or meaty frozen foods.”
- Tankmates: “A highly predatory species, C.”
- Breeding: “Not known to have reproduced in captivity, but in all likelihood breeding occurs in a similar fashion to C.”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
Catfishes
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Rivers and streams. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- Hiding places (caves, driftwood) and soft substrate for bottom-dwellers.
- Some species (redtail and shark catfish) grow huge and suit only public aquariums.
Diet
- Sinking pellets and wafers; vegetables for plecos; meaty foods for predators.
Health watch
- Bottom-dwellers suffer on dirty or sharp substrate.
Understanding the animal
About this animal
About this animal
It is found in peat swamps and streams. This species grows to a length of 20 cm (7.9 in) TL. It is found in the aquarium trade.
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Chaca bankanensis” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174
In the wild
In the wild
From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1
| Where it lives | Lives in freshwater, in rivers and streams. Stays near the bottom. Found in swamp forest and streams with soft bottom, usually among leaf litter and aquatic vegetation. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater, 75–82 °F (24–28 °C), pH 6–7.2, hardness 10 dH. |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
| Wild diet | Hunting macrofauna (predator). |
What this means for care
- Keep water within its wild range, 75–82 °F.
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 89°F (up to 90°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 72°F (down to 70°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 79–81°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 81–85% on average (driest month about 79%) |
| Rainfall | about 2589 mm a year, spread fairly evenly |
Measured at 13 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.
From the sources
From the sources
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Where it lives | Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase |
| Biology | Found in swamp forest and streams with soft bottom, usually among leaf litter and aquatic vegetation. Feeds on fish and shrimps. Possesses a short dorsal spine which can inflict painful wounds. — FishBase |
Data and studies
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Adult length
Maximum recorded length. Measured as total length. Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.
Water temperature
Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.
Water hardness
Sources for this sheet
- FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
- Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of aquarium fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Types and features of aquatic systems Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Nutritional diseases of fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
