Aspidoras fuscoguttatus Care Guide
Aspidoras fuscoguttatus is a small armoured catfish from the upper Parana basin of Brazil, kept in groups on soft sand substrate.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Aspidoras fuscoguttatus is a small armoured catfish of the family Callichthyidae, subfamily Corydoradinae, described by Nijssen & Isbrucker in 1976. Members of the genus Aspidoras are distinguished from the related Corydoras by a supraoccipital fontanel on the skull, an autapomorphy for the genus. The species is a peaceful, bottom-dwelling fish.
Taxonomy
- Family: Callichthyidae
- Subfamily: Corydoradinae
- Genus: Aspidoras
- Scientific name: Aspidoras fuscoguttatus
- Described by: Nijssen & Isbrucker, 1976
Habitat
The species occurs in the upper Parana River basin in Brazil. Aspidoras as a genus is endemic to Brazil, inhabiting small and shallow streams draining the Brazilian Shield. The fish is freshwater and benthopelagic, and like other callichthyids it is a facultative air-breather, able to gulp atmospheric air at the surface.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 60 L
- Temperature: 22-26 °C (72-79 °F)
- pH: 6.0-7.5
- GH: 2-12 °dGH
- School size: 6 or more individuals
- Lifespan: 5-10 years
- Substrate: soft sand
Diet
The species is an omnivore. According to Wikipedia it feeds on worms, benthic crustaceans, insects and plant matter, and FishBase reports a trophic level of about 3.0. In aquaria it accepts sinking prepared foods together with small live and frozen items.
Compatibility
A. fuscoguttatus is a peaceful, diurnal, bottom-oriented schooling fish best kept in groups of six or more. It suits calm community aquaria with similarly peaceful tankmates such as small tetras and rasboras, and should not be combined with aggressive cichlids. Soft sand substrate protects its delicate barbels.
Breeding
According to Wikipedia the species lays eggs in dense vegetation, and the adults do not guard the eggs.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2018).
Aspidoras fuscoguttatus Breeding Guide
Overview
Aspidoras fuscoguttatus, the darkspotted catfish, is a small callichthyid reaching about 4 cm in length, found in the upper Parana River basin in Brazil. According to Wikipedia it lays eggs in dense vegetation and the adults do not guard them, the typical egg-depositing strategy of the genus. It is reported to be uncommon in the trade, partly because it is hard to tell apart from related species.
Sexing
Published sexing data for this species is limited and Wikipedia provides none. As in other small Aspidoras, mature females are expected to be broader and rounder than males when viewed from above, especially when gravid. Maintaining a group of six or more improves the chance of forming a spawning pair.
Breeding Setup
- A small, mature, clean tank over fine sand
- Soft, acidic to neutral water; Wikipedia reports pH about 5.5-6.8 and around 12 dGH
- Temperature in the 22-25 C range (Wikipedia)
- Fine-leaved plants and spawning mops as egg substrate
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Wikipedia documents only that the species scatters eggs in dense vegetation without parental care. Following the well-established genus pattern, a large cooler water change is the usual stimulus for small Aspidoras; this is offered as a genus-level approach rather than a species-specific record.
Egg & Fry Care
Since the adults do not guard the eggs, protecting the clutch from predation is the priority. No species-specific fry-rearing protocol is published; the fry are reared as for other small egg-scattering callichthyids, with very small live foods once free-swimming.