VULTURE (MOTA) CATFISH

🦴 Vulture Catfish (Calophysus macropterus) – Ruthless Scavenger with Monster Personality

The Vulture Catfish, also known as the Mota Catfish, is one of the most aggressive scavenger catfish in the freshwater hobby. With its torpedo-shaped body, powerful jaw structure, and unrelenting feeding habits, this Amazon native is a bold choice for serious predator fish keepers.

Don’t let its clean silver-gray coloration and subtle patterns fool you—the Vulture Catfish earns its name for a reason. In the wild, it’s known to strip flesh from carcasses and outcompete much larger species at feeding time. In the aquarium, it displays relentless energy, fast growth, and a tendency to nip or pick at weaker tankmates—making it ideal for species-only setups or tanks with tough, high-aggression predators.

🐟 Species Profile:

• Scientific Name: Calophysus macropterus

• Common Names: Vulture Catfish, Mota Catfish

• Origin: Amazon River Basin

• Adult Size: 12–18 inches

• Temperament: Highly aggressive scavenger

• Tank Size: 125+ gallons

• Water Parameters: 76–84°F | pH 6.5–7.5 | Soft to moderate hardness

• Diet: Carnivore – thrives on shrimp, tilapia, pellets, silversides, and meaty frozen foods

🛠️ Tank Setup & Compatibility:

Vulture Catfish thrive in:

• Low-light tanks with caves, driftwood, and strong filtration

• Smooth substrate or bare-bottom setups to prevent injury

• Frequent feeding schedules to curb aggression

• Tanks with robust tankmates that can hold their own

Compatible with:

• Very aggressive species like tiger shovelnose, redtail catfish, peacock bass

• Not recommended with peaceful or slow-moving fish

• Best kept alone or with other aggressive catfish of similar size

Behavior:

• 🔪 Scavenger behavior—picks at wounds, leftovers, and tankmates if hungry

• ⚡ Extremely active, even during daylight

• 📈 Fast grower with a massive appetite and strong feeding response

🛒 Why Buy from RobsAquatics.com?

Each Vulture (Mota) Catfish is:

• ✅ Acclimated and trained on a carnivorous prepared food diet

• ✅ Carefully shipped and backed by our Live Arrival Guarantee

• ✅ A perfect choice for hardcore predator keepers, public tanks, or species-only predator displays

📦 Bring intensity and action to your predator tank with one of the most ruthless scavengers in the Amazon. The Vulture Catfish (Calophysus macropterus) is fast, ferocious, and unforgettable—available now at RobsAquatics.com.