Biotodoma wavrini Breeding Guide
Breeding notes for the Orinoco eartheater Biotodoma wavrini, a presumed biparental substrate-spawner that may rarely have been bred in aquaria.
Overview
Biotodoma wavrini is a peaceful eartheater from the middle and upper Río Negro basins, the Casiquiare system and the Orinoco watershed in Venezuela and Colombia. Information on its reproduction is very scarce, and the source notes the species may never have been bred in aquaria. It is presumed to be a biparental substrate-spawner like its congener B. cupido.
Sexing
Sexual dimorphism is unconfirmed. Males are supposed to grow larger than females and may develop slightly more-extended fins, but reliable visual sexing is not established.
Conditioning
No conditioning regime specific to this species is described in the source. As a blackwater eartheater, a varied diet within a stable, soft, acidic aquarium is the reasonable basis, following general care for the species.
Breeding Setup
- Soft, acidic water within the general maintenance range of 20-30 °C, pH 4.0-6.5 and hardness around 18-90 ppm.
- Water-worn rocks have been suggested as potential spawning sites.
- Fine sand substrate suited to a sand-sifting eartheater.
- Stable, mature conditions, given how sensitive blackwater Biotodoma can be.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Specific spawning behaviour is not documented for this species. Based on its congener B. cupido, it is presumed to clean a rock surface and spawn as a biparental pair, but the source provides only minimal, speculative information.
Common Challenges
Breeding difficulty is very high, with the source noting the species may never have been bred in aquaria and that information is very scarce. The record lists this species as a substrate-spawner, consistent with the presumed biparental substrate-spawning strategy noted by the source.