What to feed speckled catfish?

Speckled catfish are one of the most popular aquarium fish for beginners, because they are not whimsical in care and are easily bred in captivity. They live from 3 to 5 years, their lifespan largely depends on the temperature of the water – the higher it is, the faster the catfish’s metabolism and, accordingly, the aging process.

These fish signal to the owner when the water is poorly oxygenated. They often begin to rise to the surface and capture air, and then sink down. This is a signal that it is time to turn on aeration.

How to distinguish a female from a male?

1. Females are much larger and have a rounded belly.

2. Males have a bright color and a powerful dorsal fin. The shape of the anal fin is sharper, it is easy to see visually.

Many novice aquarists cannot immediately decide whether it is better to feed speckled catfish – ready-made food, frozen live food, or natural plant foods. Fish of this species prefer live food, but they will not refuse special chips, granules or tablets, which are intended for bottom inhabitants of the aquarium. These catfish are active throughout the day, so they will gladly accept food at any time of the day. It is best to feed speckled catfish 2 times a day, if you give finished products, then the serving size is indicated on the package. At the same time, it must be taken into account that this type of fish eats up leftover food from the bottom behind its fellows in the aquarium, so you need to calculate the amount of food in such a way as not to overfeed them. Overeating leads to bloating and other more serious problems.