What is an eclipse catfish?

The eclipse catfish, commonly referred to as the sun catfish, is a freshwater species of the Bagridae family native to southwestern India. The fish is known by the distinct black spot to the rear of its gill plate and features a body shape similar to the North American channel catfish.

The eclipse catfish, a popular aquarium fish, reaches up to 12 inches in size in captivity, though it is known to grow to 18 inches in the wild. Captive fish feed on a variety of pellets, earthworms and mealworms, while eclipse catfish in native waters feed on invertebrates, plant matter and smaller fish.