Bubu (Auchenoglanis occidentalis)

Scientific name: Auchenoglanis occidentalis Valenciennes, 1840

The Bubu (Auchenoglanis occidentalis) is a freshwater fish of the family Claroteidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 21–25°C (70–77°F). Native range: Africa, present in most rivers of West Africa, Lake Chad, the entire Congo River system, the Nile, East African lakes, and the rivers Omo and Giuba.

Bubu care at a glance

Temperature: 21–25°C (70–77°F)

Biology

Inhabit lakes and large rivers. Occur in shallow water with muddy bottom. Omnivore, feed on plankton, mollusks, seeds and detritus. Oviparous. Nested eggs are guarded by the male parent. Furthermore, the male plays host to eggs and young of Dinotopterus cunningtoni which takes advantage of the already prepared nest and feed on the host brood. An example of interspecific brood care.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Auchenoglanis occidentalis
Family: Claroteidae (Claroteid catfishes)
Order: Siluriformes (Catfish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 70.0
Environment: Freshwater;; pH range: 6.5 - 7.8; dH range: ? - 28 demersal; potamodromous
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Africa: present in most rivers of West Africa, Lake Chad, the entire Congo River system, the Nile, East African lakes, and the rivers Omo and Giuba.
Conservation status (IUCN): Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: commercial
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.3)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Last updated 27 September 2026