Taxonomy & naming
Chrysichthys auratus was described by Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire in 1809 from the Nile and is the type species of Chrysichthys. It sits in the family Claroteidae, the African giant catfishes, which in older literature were folded into the Bagridae; the Catalog of Fishes now uses Claroteidae.
Morphology
FishBase gives a maximum length of 22.5 in TL and the common name golden Nile catfish. As the name suggests the body is yellowish to golden, with four pairs of barbels and a strong, serrated pectoral and dorsal spine, as in other Chrysichthys. Further anatomical detail is not recorded in the sources used here.
Habitat
The type locality is the Nile River. FishBase gives a temperature range of 79–88 °F; pH and hardness are not recorded.
Feeding
Diet is not recorded in the FishBase entry. Chrysichthys species generally take invertebrates, small fish and plant matter from the bottom, but that is a generic statement for the genus.
Mating
Courtship is not recorded for this species.
Breeding
Breeding is not recorded for this species in the sources used here.
In the aquarium
At up to 22.5 in TL this is not a community-tank catfish. It needs a very large tank, strong filtration, warm water in FishBase's 79–88 °F range and tankmates large enough to avoid being eaten. Handle with care because the pectoral spines are sharp and serrated.
Conservation
The IUCN Red List assessed Chrysichthys auratus as Least Concern in 2019. No species-specific threats are listed in the sources used here.