Chocolate Talking Catfish

Geographic Origin and Biotope: Widely distributed in the northern Amazon basin and Guyana. Stations in slow watercourses (igarapés), swamps and marginal zones invaded by branches and leaves, where the water is shallow and often turbid.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Painted Talking Catfish (Acanthodoras cataphractus). "Barrel" body covered with hooked bony plates that form lateral shields ("cataphractus"). Spiny pectoral fins and armored skull. Famous for the sounds it emits by rubbing its pectorals ("Talking Catfish").

Social Behavior: Peculiar peaceful but lethargic nature. It is a nocturnal squatter: takes over a cramped den among logs and stones or buries itself and never comes out during the day. Cautiously explores the bottom in the dark.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Chocolate brown background furrowed by cream-colored longitudinal stripes ("Painted"). Whitish belly mottled with dark. Adult females noticeably more "round" and heavier, almost spherical before spawning.

Aquarium Setup: Tank of at least 100 cm (40 inches). Create tangles of branches and PVC pipes covered with soft sand: needs darkness. Mandatory a soft substrate in which it can "dig" its support without injuring its short barbels.

Diet and Feeding: Omnivorous detritivore. Will swallow anything it encounters foraging on the bottom: frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp, vegetable tablets and large crumbling pellets. Feed it shortly before lights out.

Water Quality: Tolerates wide ranges of values, preferring neutral-acidic waters. It is not an active swimmer, so excessive water flow will stress it. Fundamental not to leave organic residues on the bottom.

Compatibility and Tankmates: Excellent cleaner for community tanks or with placid medium-sized Cichlids (e.g. Geophagus, Severums). Will ignore any fish, unless it is so microscopic and lethargic (at night) that it ends up in its mouth by chance.

Aquarium Reproduction: Very rare event. In nature they lay eggs in small sandy pits prepared by both parents, and are fiercely defended. Rearing fry is undermined by predation in the aquarium.

Risks and Diseases: Injures itself and severely injures hands: the hooked plates make it impossible to untangle from nets. Use exclusively plastic jars for transfers. Very resistant to common diseases.