Blue whale catfish Profile

Cetopsis coecutiens, known as the Whale Catfish, is a lesser-known South American species with a surprising reputation. Native to the Amazon and Orinoco river basins, this fish may appear unassuming at first glance, but its behaviour makes it one of the more notorious members of the catfish world.

These fish are not suitable for community tanks. While small as juveniles, adult Cetopsis coecutiens can become aggressive, predatory, and even necrophagous—meaning they feed on dead or dying animals. They’ve even earned the nickname “candiru-assassino” in Brazil due to their habit of burrowing into carcasses.