Coral Catfish - (No Online Purchases)

The Coral Catfish (scientific name: Plotosus lineatus), also frequently called the Striped Eel Catfish, is one of the most mesmerising yet misunderstood fish in the marine hobby. Found throughout the tropical waters of Northern Australia, from Western Australia through to New South Wales, they are the only catfish species that truly inhabits coral reefs.

Essential Care and Behaviour
The "Bait Ball" Schooling: As juveniles, these fish are famous for forming incredibly tight, ball-shaped schools that move as a single organism. To see this behaviour in an aquarium, you must keep them in a group (at least 5-6, though 10+ is better). If kept alone, they become highly stressed and often refuse to eat.

Venomous Warning:Extreme caution is required. This fish has highly venomous serrated spines on its dorsal and pectoral fins. A sting is excruciatingly painful and can, in rare cases, be life-threatening.

First Aid: If stung, the standard Australian medical advice is to immerse the area in water as hot as you can tolerate (around 45°C) for 90 minutes to break down the protein-based venom, and seek medical attention.

Substrate Needs: They are constant sand-sifters. You must provide a soft sand substrate to protect their sensitive barbels (whiskers) from being scratched or infected by coarse gravel.

Diet and Feeding
Coral Catfish are opportunistic carnivores. They spend their time "vacuuming" the substrate for food.

Food Types: They love meaty foods—frozen mysis, brine shrimp, and chopped seafood (prawns or squid). They will also accept high-quality sinking pellets.

Tank Mates: As they grow, they will swallow anything that fits in their mouths. Avoid keeping them with small gobies, blennies, or tiny shrimps.

The "Adult Transition" Reality Check
Many Australian hobbyists buy them as tiny, adorable 3 cm striped balls, but they change significantly:

Appearance: The striking white stripes fade as they mature, often becoming a more solid, drab brown or black.

Social Life: While juveniles school tightly, adults become more solitary and territorial, often hiding under ledges during the day.

Size: They grow surprisingly fast and can reach over 30 cm, meaning they will eventually outgrow most standard "four-foot" tanks.

Minimum Tank Size: 450 Litres
Temperature: 24°C – 28°C
Specific Gravity:1.023 - 1.025
pH: 8.1 - 8.4
Max Size: 30cm - 35cm
Reef Safe: With Caution (will eat small fish/inverts)