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Eel-catfish Plotosus lineatus
Warning! These fish possesses venomous fin spines. In strength the venom is more painful and dangerous than those of sea catfish (Ariidae). Large adults may deliver a sufficiently large dose to cause serious harm. If you are stung by one of these fish, seek medical attention at once.
The family Plotosidae contains so-called marine catfishes, one of which, the eel catfish Plotosus lineatus, is imported periodically, though less commonly now than in the past when fish-only marine aquaria were at the height of their popularity. As a group they are found in coastal and estuarine waters, and a few are confined to freshwater. The freshwater representatives are mainly found in Australia along with freshwater members of the sea catfish family Ariidae. There are otherwise no freshwater catfishes families native to Australia.
Eel catfish are usually imported as juveniles. The attractively striped youngsters are peaceful shoaling fishes, and should be kept in groups. As they mature they become less gregarious, and the adults are solitary. In addition it grows big, to as much as 100 cm (39 inches) in the wild. Although the juveniles are basically marine, the adults can be found in brackish waters and very rarely even in freshwater habitats. Keep the juveniles in aquaria with well filtered marine strength seawater (specific gravity over 1.018). The adults should be kept alone but can be mixed with different fish such as scats. A specific gravity of 1.010 upwards is needed for long term health. The combination of space requirements and venomous nature mean that this is really not a good aquarium fish. Read the section on adapting marine fish to brackish water to find out how to adapt marine catfish to a brackish water aquarium.