Hancock's Talking Catfish

Geographic Origin and Biotope: Distributed in the Orinoco and Upper Amazon basin (Brazil, Colombia, Peru). Prefers calm alluvial lagoons and the shaded margins of streams where there is a thick layer of litter and mud.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Hancock's Talking Catfish (Amblydoras hancockii). Loricariid/Doradid with rough plates. It boasts two imposing rows of bony and spined scales on its sides and a stubby arrow-shaped profile, designed to bury itself quickly.

Social Behavior: Peaceful and extremely lethargic squatter. Chooses a root or a leaf cluster and spends all hours of the day holed up there, refusing to swim. Highly gregarious if kept in a large group.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Irregular pattern of grayish-brown patches and whitish belly. The wide lateral bony plates create a jagged stripe ("black zig-zag") along the body. Females visibly rounder and heavier due to the ovaries.

Aquarium Setup: An aquarium (at least 80-100 cm / 32-40 inches) with a typical "Blackwater" flavor. Sharp-edged gravel is strictly forbidden. It must be furnished with many tortuous bogwood and half sunken coconuts to form "dark caves".

Diet and Feeding: Nocturnal omnivorous/detritivorous explorer. Eats any type of sunken food (industrial pellets and tablets), vigorously supplementing it with daphnia, bloodworms or tubifex provided at dusk.

Water Quality: Very resistant to adverse conditions; does not suffer from occasional oxygen reductions, thanks to a mild capacity for aerial branchial absorption. In the aquarium, slightly amber and acidic water benefits its longevity.

Compatibility and Tankmates: Wonderful bottom fish for South American biotopes with Corydoras or Apistogramma. Totally ignores companion species (Cichlids, Characins) limiting itself to ignoring them even if disturbed, simply flexing its armor for defense.

Aquarium Reproduction: Hidden in mystery in private aquariums. There is a suspicion that they prepare superficial detrital nests defended by both breeders before hatching, a behavior documented in some related genera.

Risks and Diseases: It is at high risk of "Entrapment and Breakage". The sharp pectoral rays will inexorably get stuck in the traditional nylon net during capture operations. The fish will struggle, tearing them out or dying from stress.