Aspidoras spilotus Care Guide
Aspidoras spilotus is a small armoured catfish from coastal rivers of Ceara, Brazil, kept as a peaceful schooling species on soft sand.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Aspidoras spilotus 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 Corydoras by a supraoccipital fontanel on the skull. According to FishBase the species is now treated as a junior synonym of Aspidoras raimundi following Tencatt and colleagues (2022).
Taxonomy
- Family: Callichthyidae
- Subfamily: Corydoradinae
- Genus: Aspidoras
- Scientific name: Aspidoras spilotus
- Described by: Nijssen & Isbrucker, 1976
- Note: FishBase treats this as a junior synonym of Aspidoras raimundi (Tencatt et al., 2022)
Habitat
According to FishBase, the species occurs in coastal rivers in the state of Ceara, Brazil. The genus Aspidoras is endemic to Brazil and inhabits small and shallow streams draining the Brazilian Shield. The fish is freshwater and benthopelagic and is a facultative air-breather.
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. FishBase reports a trophic level of about 3.0, consistent with an omnivorous to detritivorous feeding ecology. In aquaria it accepts sinking prepared foods together with small live and frozen items.
Compatibility
A. spilotus is a peaceful, 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 barbels.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2018).
Aspidoras spilotus Breeding Guide
Overview
Aspidoras spilotus, traded under the code C125, is a small callichthyid catfish restricted to coastal river drainages in Ceara state, north-eastern Brazil, reaching about 40-45 mm standard length. It is an egg-depositing relative of Corydoras; species-specific spawning accounts are scarce, so the well-documented genus pattern is the most reliable guide.
Sexing
According to Seriously Fish, females tend to grow larger and are noticeably rounder and broader-bodied than males, especially when gravid and seen from above. Males remain slimmer. Keeping six or more raises the chance of having both sexes ready to spawn.
Conditioning
Condition the group on small live and frozen foods together with sinking dried foods until the females swell with eggs. Keep them over fine sand in stable, clean water; the 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 20-25 C and pH 6.0-7.5 (Seriously Fish)
- Soft to moderately hard water (about 36-215 ppm)
- Fine-leaved plants or spawning mops for egg deposition
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Seriously Fish does not document a species-specific spawning sequence for C125. As a genus-level approach, small Aspidoras are typically triggered by a large cooler water change; the fish then scatter adhesive eggs among plants and on hard surfaces in the manner of related callichthyids.
Egg & Fry Care
The adults do not guard the eggs, so the clutch should be protected from being eaten. No species-specific fry-rearing protocol is published; breeders generally rear the fry as for other small egg-scattering callichthyids, offering tiny live foods once they are free-swimming.