Tiger Tail Banjo Catfish (Amaralia hypsiura)

An rare and unusual relative of the more well-known Banjo Catfish, the Tiger Tail Banjo Catfish is a unique, elongated species found throughout parts of the middle Amazon and its tributaries. The Tiger Tail Banjo Catfish inhabits shallow, warm stretches of slow-moving waters and areas of flooded forest in the wild. Their unique body shape and variable coloration acts as highly effective camouflage in the submerged leaf litter where they are typically found. They are able to change color dramatically and will play dead very convincingly when confronted or captured. In the aquarium, this species is relatively hardy and undemanding, although they can be slow to find food and may be outcompeted by fast-moving or aggressive feeding tankmates.