Platycephalus claroteid catfish

Where they come from

Chrysichthys platycephalus is an African river catfish. You will see it tied to big, warm freshwater systems - rivers, floodplains, and lakes where the water can be anything from clear to muddy depending on season. That background explains a lot: they are built for strong flow, messy feeding, and they get big enough that most community-tank rules stop applying.

Setting up their tank

This is an advanced fish mostly because of size, waste, and attitude. Think "big, stable, and easy to clean" more than "fancy aquascape." If you do that, they are actually pretty hardy.

• Tank size: I would not keep one in less than a 6 foot tank, and 8 foot is where it starts feeling comfortable. They are thick-bodied and turn like a truck.
• Filtration: over-filter. Big canister(s) or a sump, plus lots of biological media. Add pre-filter sponges so you are not tearing the filter apart every week.
• Flow and oxygen: moderate to strong flow and lots of surface agitation. They sulk less and eat better with high oxygen.
• Substrate: sand or smooth fine gravel. They root around and can scrape their belly on sharp stuff.
• Hides: big PVC elbows, driftwood caves, or rock piles that cannot shift. Give them at least one dark retreat.
• Lid: tight-fitting. Startle response is real, especially after water changes or lights switching.

Water numbers matter less than stability and cleanliness. Warm freshwater suits them fine (mid-70s to low-80s F), neutral-ish pH is a safe target, and they handle some hardness. What they do not handle is chronic ammonia/nitrite, or nitrate that just creeps up because you are under-filtered for their bioload.

What to feed them

They eat like a predator-scavenger. Mine learned the schedule fast and would come out at dusk looking for anything meaty. The trick is keeping them in good shape without turning the tank into a grease trap.

• Staples: quality sinking carnivore pellets and wafers (the kind that do not explode into mush).
• Frozen foods: shrimp, mysis, krill, chopped fish/clam, mussel meat. Rotate so you are not feeding one thing forever.
• Live foods: earthworms are great if you can source clean ones. I skip feeder fish - too many parasite and thiaminase headaches.
• Occasional: bits of squid or prawn as a treat, not every day.

Portion control matters. A big catfish will act hungry even when it is not. I had the best results with smaller meals 4-5 times a week, and a lighter day in between. If the belly is bulging and the fish gets lazy, back off.

How they behave and who they get along with

Expect a mostly nocturnal, sit-and-wait fish that turns into a vacuum cleaner at feeding time. They are not "mean" in the way some cichlids are, but they are absolutely opportunistic. If it fits in the mouth, it is food. If it does not fit, it might still get chewed on.

• Best tankmates: robust, similarly sized fish that do not sleep on the bottom (big barbs, larger characins, medium-large cichlids that can hold their own, big Synodontis).
• Risky tankmates: slow fish, long fins, anything that perches on the bottom, and anything you would be sad to lose overnight.
• Avoid: small tetras, livebearers, dwarf cichlids, shrimp, snails you care about.

With more than one, space and hides decide everything. In cramped quarters they can get pushy, especially around a favorite cave. In a big tank with multiple retreats, you will see a lot more calm "sharing the floor" behavior.

Breeding tips

Breeding this species in home aquariums is not common. Adults need a lot of room, and in the wild they are tied to seasonal changes and flood cycles. Most hobbyists who keep them are running display tanks, not breeding setups.

If you ever try, you are looking at a big group, heavy feeding, and then simulating a rainy season: large water changes with slightly cooler water, increased flow/oxygen, and lots of structure. Even then, getting a compatible pair and raising fry is a serious project.

Common problems to watch for

• Nitrate creep and "mystery" water quality issues: usually from overfeeding and food trapped under decor. Vacuum under wood and rocks, not just open sand.
• Barbel erosion: often a combo of dirty substrate, sharp gravel, and high organics. Clean up, switch to sand, and keep the bottom tidy.
• Ich after big changes: they can get spotty if you swing temperature or stress them with a major rescape. Match temp closely and keep lights low after maintenance.
• Bloat/constipation: common with too many rich foods. Rotate in pellets, do smaller meals, and do not make shrimp the whole diet.
• Injuries from decor: scraped sides or split barbels from squeezing into tight caves. Give them hides that are wider than you think they need.

If you keep the water clean, give them elbow room, and feed like you are running a messy predator tank (because you are), they are rewarding fish. They have real presence, and once they settle in, they get bold in that calm, heavy catfish way.