Polka Dot Catfish (Auchenipterichthys punctatus) Care Guide
Auchenipterichthys punctatus is a peaceful spotted driftwood catfish of the Rio Negro, nocturnal and insectivorous in the wild.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Auchenipterichthys punctatus is a spotted driftwood catfish of the family Auchenipteridae. FishBase records it from the upper Amazon basin in Brazil, specifically along the Rio Negro at around 150 m altitude in blackish, rocky-bottomed water. It reaches about 15.1 cm standard length.
Taxonomy
- Family: Auchenipteridae (driftwood catfishes)
- Genus: Auchenipterichthys
- Scientific name: Auchenipterichthys punctatus
Habitat
FishBase describes a benthopelagic species of blackwater habitats with rocky substrates in the upper Amazon basin. White spots over a dark body give it the common name 'polka dot catfish'. It is primarily nocturnal.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 200 L
- Temperature: 22-27 °C (72-81 °F)
- pH: 6.0-7.5
- GH: 2-15 °dGH
- Lifespan: 8-15 years
Diet
FishBase reports it is primarily insectivorous, with stomach contents consisting mainly of insect nymphs and adults (trophic level 2.7). In the aquarium it accepts sinking foods and frozen or live insect-based items, fed after dark.
Compatibility
Peaceful and bottom-oriented, it suits a blackwater-style community with tankmates too large to be eaten, such as suitably sized tetras and calmer cichlids. Provide driftwood, caves and subdued lighting; avoid very small fish.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2020).
Breeding Auchenipterichthys punctatus
Overview
Auchenipterichthys punctatus, the polka dot catfish, is a driftwood catfish (woodcat) of the family Auchenipteridae from the Amazon basin. Like its congeners it is a peaceful, primarily nocturnal bottom-dweller. Species-specific spawning records for A. punctatus are scarce, so the reproductive information below is drawn from the well-documented pattern shared across the genus Auchenipterichthys, of which this species is a recognised member.
Sexing
Across the genus, mature males develop a modified anal fin used for internal insemination, with the urogenital opening at the end of a tube bound to the anterior margin of the anal fin. Females have an enlarged urogenital opening. In related species, serrae on the end of the dorsal fin spine are proportionally longer in breeding males than in juveniles and females.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
The genus practises internal fertilization: the male uses his modified anal fin as a means of internal insemination, after which the female can later lay the eggs in isolation. Females have been observed to store sperm and produce fertile eggs in the absence of males, with eggs deposited directly onto the substrate.
Common Challenges
Because verified spawning accounts for A. punctatus itself are scarce, breeding it relies on extrapolating the genus pattern. The nocturnal, secretive habits of these woodcats also make spawning behaviour difficult to observe directly.