This
family contains catfish from marine and freshwater
habitats. Not popular catfishes for the home
aquarium as some grow too big and boisterous
with a rather dull silver colouration, but a
few of the smaller varieties can be kept with
larger tankmates. Most will need salt added
to their water as
they grow larger.
Caudal fin forked; adipose
fin present; usually three pairs of barbels,
rarely two (no nasal barbels); some bony plates
on head and near dorsal fin origin; pectoral
and dorsal fins with a spine; many species of
the sea catfishes enter freshwater and some
only occur in freshwater. In most, if not all
species, the male carries the relatively large
eggs in its mouth until hatching (mouthbrooding).
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