Aspidoras pauciradiatus Breeding Guide
How to breed Aspidoras pauciradiatus: sexing gravid females, conditioning, the cool water-change trigger and egg deposition in dense vegetation.
Overview
Aspidoras pauciradiatus is a small callichthyid catfish restricted to the upper Araguaia basin in Brazil, reaching only about 30-35 mm standard length. Reproduction follows a pattern similar to that of Corydoras: it is an egg-depositor that scatters eggs in dense vegetation, and the adults do not guard them. According to Seriously Fish it is best maintained in stable, mature water before any breeding is attempted.
Sexing
Females tend to grow larger and are noticeably rounder and broader-bodied than males, especially when gravid and viewed from above. Males stay slimmer. Because the differences are subtle, keeping a group of six or more improves the odds of having both sexes in spawning condition.
Conditioning
Condition the group on a varied diet of small live and frozen foods alongside sinking dried foods until females fill out with eggs. Maintain stable, clean water over fine sand; this species should not be added to biologically immature tanks.
Breeding Setup
- Tank with base dimensions of at least 60 x 30 cm and fine sand substrate
- Temperature 20-27 C and pH 6.0-7.0 (Seriously Fish)
- Soft to moderately hard water (about 36-215 ppm)
- Fine-leaved plants, spawning mops or clean glass for egg deposition
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Seriously Fish reports that spawning can be induced by performing a large water change with noticeably cooler water, an effect that is often stronger during a drop in barometric pressure. The fish then spawn in the manner typical of the genus, depositing adhesive eggs among plants and on hard surfaces.
Egg & Fry Care
Eggs are laid in dense vegetation and the adults provide no parental care, so eggs are best protected from being eaten. Detailed fry-rearing data is not documented for this species; breeders generally follow the standard approach for small egg-scattering callichthyids, offering tiny live foods once the fry are free-swimming.