HomeFreshwater aquarium fishCatfish & plecosSnake catfish Snake catfish (Clarias theodorae) Scientific name: Clarias theodorae Weber, 1897 The Snake catfish (Clarias theodorae) is a freshwater fish of the family Clariidae. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 78-92; Anal soft rays: 64 - 76; Vertebrae: 56 - 61. Head rectangular in dorsal outline; snout broadly rounded; eyes dorsally located. Frontal fontanelle `knife-shaped'; occipital fontanelle very long and oval-shaped. The `dermosphenotic' and supraorbital bones become joined in specimens of 80-90 mm SL. Tooth plates relatively small. Dorsal and anal fins not confluent with caudal fins. gill rakers relatively long, slender and distantly set. Openings of the secondary sensory canals arranged in regular pattern on the flanks.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameClarias theodoraeFamilyClariidae (Airbreathing catfishes)OrderSiluriformes (Catfish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length35.0EnvironmentFreshwater; demersalClimateTropicalDistributionAfrica: Zambezi, Kafue and Shire Rivers; Upper Congo system; Lakes Tanganyika, Bangweulu, Kobo, Niumbe, Mweru and Malawi; Chobe, Okavango and Cunene Rivers; Pungwe, Sabi, Lundi Rivers and Zimbabwean tributaries of the Limpopo River; Incomati, Pongolo and Umgeni rivers and Lake Sibaya in Natal.Conservation status (IUCN)Least Concern (LC)Threat to humansHarmlessUsesFisheries: subsistence fisheries; aquarium: commercialResilienceHigh, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) More catfish & plecosElectric catfishMalapterurus electricusGhost CatfishKryptopterus minorMystus tengaraMystus leucophasisPimelodus ornatusHognosed brochisBrochis multiradiatusSee all catfish & plecos SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.Last updated 27 September 2026