Bony fish · Siluriformes · Clariidae

African Catfish

Clarias gariepinus

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The African sharptooth catfish is a robust silurid with a flattened head and four pairs of barbels, one of the hardiest freshwater fish there is. It eats anything: fish, insects, seeds, carrion and even waterbirds. It is one of the most widely farmed species in African and Asian aquaculture.

Size

60 cm – 1.7 m

Lifespan

8 years

Diet

Omnivore

Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.

Activity

Nocturnal

Active mainly at night.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

FreshwaterOmnivore Nocturnal Solitary Fish Freshwater

57countries 69parks 1dive sites

Fun facts

It has a tree-like organ above the gills that lets it breathe air and survive for hours out of water.
It can travel overland between pools when the water dries up, and survive buried in damp mud.
Fish farming has made it invasive on several continents, where it preys on the native fauna with hardly any competition.