Midnight Catfish (Auchenipterichthys coracoideus) Care Guide
Auchenipterichthys coracoideus is a peaceful nocturnal driftwood catfish of the upper Amazon basin, kept in small groups with caves.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Auchenipterichthys coracoideus is a driftwood catfish of the family Auchenipteridae, native to the upper Amazon River basin. FishBase records a maximum size of 19.2 cm standard length and notes it poses no threat to humans. The common name 'midnight catfish' reflects its dark coloration and nocturnal habits.
Taxonomy
- Family: Auchenipteridae (driftwood catfishes)
- Genus: Auchenipterichthys
- Scientific name: Auchenipterichthys coracoideus
Habitat
FishBase places the species in tropical, demersal freshwater of the upper Amazon basin. Like other auchenipterids it shelters by day in submerged wood and crevices, emerging to forage after dark.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 150 L
- Temperature: 22-27 °C (72-81 °F)
- pH: 6.0-7.5
- GH: 2-15 °dGH
- Group size: 4 or more individuals
- Lifespan: 8-15 years
Diet
FishBase places the species at trophic level 3.4, indicating a carnivore-leaning omnivore. In the aquarium it accepts sinking prepared foods and frozen or live items such as bloodworms, fed after lights-out to match its nocturnal feeding.
Compatibility
Peaceful and gregarious, it does best in a small group and with tankmates too large to be eaten, such as tetras of suitable size and calmer cichlids. Provide driftwood, caves and dim lighting. Avoid very small fish that could be taken at night.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2020). FishBase notes high resilience and low fishing vulnerability.
Breeding Auchenipterichthys coracoideus
Overview
Auchenipterichthys coracoideus, the midnight or Zamora catfish, is a driftwood catfish (woodcat) of the family Auchenipteridae, reaching about 90-110 mm. Seriously Fish records it from the upper and central Peruvian and Brazilian Amazon basin, plus the Essequibo drainage. It is a peaceful, shy, nocturnal fish that may consume very small fishes at night, kept at 22-25 degrees Celsius and pH 6.0-7.2. Members of this genus are unusual in that they practise internal fertilization.
Sexing
Sexual dimorphism is distinct. Mature males develop a hook-like, modified anal fin used for copulation, functioning in a manner similar to the gonopodium of livebearers, and nuptial males show greatly elongated dorsal spines. According to the Wikipedia genus account, the male's urogenital opening sits at the end of a tube bound to the anterior margin of the anal fin, while females have an enlarged urogenital opening.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Fertilization is internal: the male uses his modified anal fin to inseminate the female during a spawning embrace. Remarkably, the female can store sperm for later use, and females have been observed laying fertile eggs in the absence of males. The eggs are then laid directly onto the substrate, with the female depositing them in isolation.
Egg & Fry Care
Seriously Fish reports the species has been successfully bred in aquaria in Germany. No parental care has been observed, so the eggs and resulting fry are not guarded by the adults.