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Catfish
/ Callichthyidae / Armored Catfish
Armored Catfish
Callichthys callichthys | Pictures
SYN: Callichthys
coelatus, Cataphractus callichthys, Silurus callichthys
PD: An elongated catfish with straight belly profile. Its head is broad and flattened and
has small eyes. The body has two sets of plates. The upper has 26-29, while the lower 25-28. The body color is
brown to flesh colored with each plate having its own unique color. In reflected light the body has a green to
violet sheen, especially if good water conditions are maintained. The back and head are spotted with small black
spots. The upper jaw has two pair of barbels-one set is long and points straight out, while the other is shorter
and pointing downwards.
SIZE: To 7" (18 cm)
SS: Dianema
species such as the Porthole Catfish are somewhat
similar.
H: Widely distributed throughout South America; Brazil, Venezuela, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru,
Bolivia. Often found in brackish rivers that are affected by the tide.
A: bottom
TANK: 24" (61 cm) or 15 gallons (56 L) is sufficient for fish to 5” (13 cm). The
tank should be well-planted with large, robust plants and have a fine gravel substrate for burrowing. Provide
hiding places with roots, wood, and rocks.
Like many other catfish, the Armored Catfish prefers large, shallow
tanks.
WATER: pH 5.8-8.2 (7.0), 2-25 dH (10), 66-82°F (19-28°C). A 0.5 to 1% addition of salt is welcomed. This
can be accomplished by adding 4 to 7.5 TSP. of salt for every 10 gallons (5-10 g salt/10 L).
SB: A nocturnal, calm, peaceful fish that likes to school. Recommended for community tanks
with fish that are over 2.5" (6.4 cm) in length for it may eat fish smaller than this.
SB: Cichlasoma,
Anostomus, Colossoma, Metynnis, Leporinus
FOOD: Live; fish, insects, worms; tablets; plant matter; vegetables. This catfish should be fed after the
tank lights are turned off.
SC: The male is larger, more colorful, and has a thicker first pectoral fin. The
front rays of the male's pectoral fins are red.
B: Keeping the water cool (68°F) may help induce spawning. A bubble nest is built on
the underside of plant leaves by the male.
100-200 eggs are laid in the nest. The male guards the nest aggressively
from all other fish and emits grunting noises. Remove other fish from tank. The fry hatch in 4-6 days and live
on the contents of their egg-sacs for 2-3 days. Start feeding hard-boiled egg yolk and small live foods. The young
are free swimming after 6-8 days.
BP: 7. Breeding the Armored Catfish is moderately difficult.
R: This fish often takes atmospheric air from the water surface via the mouth to the intestine.
This fish has been known to leave the water and move across land during the dry season. The Armored Catfish grows
slowly. It comes out at dusk to search the bottom for fallen food and often hides during the day. Wild-caught specimen have a difficult time acclimating.
DC: 3. A hardy fish ideal for community tanks with larger fish.
Recent articles about fish
Overfishing may hurt Amazon forest trees
(2/5/2008) Overfishing is reducing the effectiveness of seed dispersal by fish in the Brazilian Pantanal, reports Nature. The research suggests that fishing practices can affect forest health.
Scientists find fish that literally lives in trees
(10/17/2007) Scientists have found a fish that literally lives in trees, according to research published in The American Naturalist and highlighted in New Scientist Magazine.
Piranhas originated when Amazon was flooded by seawater
(12/4/2007) South America's piranha family of fish -- notorious as eaters of flesh -- can be traced back to a single ancestor which dispersed when the Amazon was flooded by seawater some five million years ago, report researchers from the Institut de Recherche Pour le Developpement (IRD). Today piranhas are exclusively freshwater fish found from the Orinoco River basin in Venezuela to the Parana in Argentina.
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