Flagtail Catfish Care Guide
Dianema urostriatum is a South American armored catfish with a striped caudal fin, native to the Amazon basin of Brazil.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
The flagtail catfish (Dianema urostriatum) is a South American armored catfish of the family Callichthyidae and subfamily Callichthyinae, named by Miranda-Ribeiro in 1912. It is closely related to Corydoras and is distinguished by a boldly striped caudal fin. It is a mid-water, sociable species kept in groups.
Taxonomy
- Family: Callichthyidae
- Genus: Dianema
- Scientific name: Dianema urostriatum
- Synonym: Decapogon urostriatum
Habitat
The species occurs in South America in the Amazon River basin of Brazil.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 150 L
- Temperature: 22-27 °C (record); Wikipedia cites 25-28 °C
- pH: 6-7.5 (Wikipedia: 6.0-8.0)
- GH: 2-12 °dGH (Wikipedia: 5-19 dH)
- Maximum size: up to 12.5 cm (Wikipedia)
- School size: 5 or more
- Lifespan: 5-8 years
Diet
It is an omnivore. In aquariums it forages in the open water and along the substrate, accepting prepared and live foods.
Compatibility
The flagtail catfish is peaceful and should be kept in a group. The record lists tetras, Corydoras, angelfish and rasboras as suitable tankmates, while aggressive cichlids and large predatory fish are best avoided.
Breeding
According to the species record, it builds bubble nests under floating plants for breeding.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern.
Flagtail Catfish Breeding Guide
Overview
The flagtail catfish (Dianema urostriatum) is a callichthyid from parts of the Brazilian Amazon basin, reaching about 12.5 cm standard length. Information on its spawning is scant, yet it has been bred in aquaria on numerous occasions. It is reportedly a bubble-nester, although some conflicting reports suggest eggs may be laid in pits excavated in the substrate.
Breeding Setup
It is best to begin with a small group of four to six fish in soft, slightly acidic water (25-28 °C, pH 6.0-8.0, preferably lower). Float a piece of polystyrene or a plastic lid at the surface to provide a potential nest-building site, since in the closely related Hoplosternum a yellow object has given the best results.
Conditioning
Condition the group with copious amounts of live food to bring the fish into spawning condition.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Large, cool water changes are the key trigger and, together with heavy feeding, stimulate breeding activity; simulating seasonal dry/wet cycles may help reluctant pairs. Eggs are deposited either in a surface bubble nest or, by some accounts, in a substrate pit.
Egg & Fry Care
Once eggs are noticed the adults should be removed, as they may eat them. After their yolk sacs are absorbed the fry are big enough to take Artemia nauplii and/or microworm.