Page 122 - Encyclopedia of Aquarium and Pond Fish, 3rd Edition

120 FRESHWATER FISH DIRECTORY

Dianema longibarbus Callichthys callichthys Megalechis thoracata
Porthole Catfish Slender Armored Catfish Thorocatum Catfish

ORIGINS Northwestern South America, in the Ambylac ORIGINS South America, from Peru eastward to ORIGINS Northern South America, reaching as far south
and Pacaya Rivers in Peru. Guyana, eastern Brazil, Paraguay, and Bolivia. as Paraguay; also offshore islands, including Trinidad.
SIZE 4 in (10 cm). SIZE 8 in (20 cm). SIZE 8 in (20 cm).
DIET Prepared foods and live foods. DIET Prepared foods and live foods. DIET Prepared foods and live foods.
WATER Temperature 72–79°F (22–26°C); soft WATER Temperature 64–82°F (18–28°C); soft WATER Temperature 64–82°F (18–28°C); soft
(50–100 mg/l) and acidic (pH 6.5). (50–100 mg/l) and acidic (pH 6.5). (50–100 mg/l) and acidic (pH 6.5).
TEMPERAMENT Social and nonaggressive. TEMPERAMENT Social and nonaggressive. TEMPERAMENT Relatively peaceful.
Forked The steeply sloping head of this catfish helps Barbels of Coloration
caudal fin to distinguish it from corydoras, which have a different lengths is variable
similar reflective sheen on their bodies. Slender
Armored Catfish are also significantly larger
than corydoras and may prey on
smaller companions in the aquarium.
Pale These catfish prefer naturally shady surroundings
underparts in which they can hide among bogwood and
rocks during the day. They are primarily nocturnal This catfish is usually bluish-black or reddish-
The pattern of dark speckling on the body varies in their habits and are most active toward dusk. brown, with some speckling. Thorocatum Catfish
between individual Porthole Catfish, but it never are easy to sex when in breeding condition, since
extends to the fins. Distinguishing the sexes is the rays of the male’s pectoral fins turn orange,
difficult, but pairs will breed in aquarium while the underparts suffuse with a bluish-violet
surroundings, where the male creates a bubble coloration. Spawning is very vigorous, with the
nest for the eggs. Lowering the water level and male often pursuing the female aggressively. The
raising its temperature to 82°F (28°C) may help eggs are deposited in a bubble nest at the surface
to trigger spawning. When swimming, the longer among vegetation and will be guarded until they
pair of barbels are held horizontally, while the hatch. In the wild, this species inhabits muddy
shorter pair points downward. shallows that are thick with aquatic plant growth.

Aspidoras lakoi Aspidoras pauciradiatus
Spotline Aspidoras the Spotline, the silvery-bronze body is decorated Sixray Corydoras
with dark brown or black mottling, which in places
ORIGINS South America, where it has been recorded in forms rough horizontal lines. Dark lines also arc ORIGINS South America, occurring in the Araguaia River,
the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. across the caudal fin. The key feature that sets and the Rio Negro in Brazil.
SIZE 1 ⁄2 in (4 cm). aspidoras apart from corydoras is the presence of SIZE 1 ⁄2 in (4 cm).
1
1
DIET Prepared foods and small live foods. two pores in the skull (although these will obviously DIET Prepared foods and small live foods.
WATER Temperature 72 –79°F (22–26°C); soft not be apparent in a live specimen). Spotline WATER Temperature 73–82°F (23–28°C); soft
(50–100 mg/l) and acidic (pH 6.5). Aspidoras prefer to remain close to the substrate, (50–100 mg/l) and acidic (pH 6.5).
TEMPERAMENT Social and nonaggressive. which should be fine-grained so that they can dig TEMPERAMENT Social and nonaggressive.
into it. These fish will also appreciate the addition
These small aspidoras catfish are closely related of bogwood and rockwork to their tank, especially A large blotched area on the dorsal fin identifies
to the corydoras group and require similar care, small pieces of slate laid horizontally to create this mottled catfish, which also has a strongly
although they are not as commonly available. In platforms on which the catfish can rest. marked caudal fin. Sixray Corydoras are not as
well known as true corydoras; however, they are
equally attractive, and it can sometimes be difficult
to distinguish between the two species. The tank
needs well-oxygenated water as well as a special
sandy substrate in which the fish will instinctively
dig for small worms and other edible items.

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