South American Bumblebee Catfish (Microglanis iheringi) Care Guide
Microglanis iheringi is a small banded catfish from Venezuela, reaching about 6 cm, peaceful with fish too large to swallow.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Microglanis iheringi is a small dwarf marbled catfish of the family Pseudopimelodidae, described by Gomes in 1946. It has a black-and-yellow banded pattern and is native to Venezuela. The species is nocturnal and bottom-dwelling.
Taxonomy
- Family: Pseudopimelodidae
- Genus: Microglanis
- Scientific name: Microglanis iheringi
- Author: Gomes, 1946
Habitat
The species is recorded from the Turmero River basin in Venezuela. It inhabits swift-flowing waters over rock and gravel substrates.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 80 L
- Temperature: 22-26 °C (72-79 °F)
- pH: 6.0-7.5
- GH: 2-15 °dGH
- Lifespan: 8-15 years
- Substrate: soft sand with hiding places and driftwood
Diet
In the wild Microglanis iheringi feeds on insects, mostly ants, and has a trophic level of about 3.5. In the aquarium it is omnivorous and accepts sinking foods and small meaty items; it readily eats fish small enough to swallow.
Compatibility
The species is peaceful toward tankmates too large to be eaten. It is suitable with mid-sized characins and other community fish, while very small fish that could be swallowed should be avoided.
Breeding
Breeding in the home aquarium is considered difficult and is rarely reported.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2020). The species shows low vulnerability to fishing pressure.
Microglanis iheringi Breeding Guide
Overview
Microglanis iheringi, the South American bumblebee catfish, is a small black-and-yellow banded catfish of the family Pseudopimelodidae. It is an egg scatterer, and although it is generally regarded as difficult to breed, successful spawnings have been documented in home aquaria.
Sexing
External sexing is difficult. In documented spawns the only clear distinction was body shape: a slimmer male pursuing a markedly plump, well-rounded female, with females appearing noticeably fuller when carrying eggs.
Conditioning
Condition adults well so that females become rounded with eggs. Reported successful conditions used a pH between about 6.5 and 7.8 and a temperature around 78 F (about 25 C). Regular partial water changes were part of the maintenance routine in documented cases.
Breeding Setup
Provide clusters of rounded river rocks and crevices where eggs can fall out of reach, together with structure such as tubes and mesh. Because eggs are non-adhesive and scatter, an egg-protection layer (for example a false bottom of marbles or a grid) helps keep them away from hungry adults.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
In documented cases spawning followed changes to the physical environment, such as moving the tank or rearranging the rockwork, combined with the presence of a well-rounded female. The fish scatter their eggs among the rocks rather than tending a fixed nest.
Egg & Fry Care
Eggs are small, roughly 1-2 mm, and transparent green. Hatching is rapid, typically within about 18 hours and under 24 hours, with hatch time shortening at higher temperature. Free-swimming fry swim almost constantly and shelter near the surface; they accept newly hatched or decapsulated brine shrimp, plus microworm and vinegar eels. Raise the fry much as you would tetras.
Common Challenges
The two main hurdles are the difficulty of sexing the fish reliably and protecting the scattered, non-adhesive eggs from predation before they hatch. Fertility of a clutch can be partial, so a protected substrate and prompt feeding of small live foods improve fry yield.