Pseudolaguvia ribeiroi Care Guide
Pseudolaguvia ribeiroi is a tiny South Asian erethistid catfish for nano tanks, favoring gentle current and biofilm-rich hardscape.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Pseudolaguvia ribeiroi is a very small catfish placed in the family Erethistidae (sometimes treated within Sisoridae). It is one of several diminutive South Asian hillstream catfishes kept in nano aquaria, reaching only a few centimetres in length.
Taxonomy
- Family: Erethistidae
- Genus: Pseudolaguvia
- Scientific name: Pseudolaguvia ribeiroi
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 60 L
- Temperature: 20-25 °C (68-77 °F)
- pH: 6.0-7.5
- GH: 2-12 °dGH
- Group size: 5 or more individuals
- Lifespan: 5-10 years
Diet
The species is insectivorous, feeding on small invertebrates and grazing biofilm. In the aquarium it accepts small sinking foods and frozen items such as cyclops and microworms; a mature hardscape with biofilm helps support it.
Compatibility
Peaceful and bottom-dwelling, it benefits from being kept in a small group with gentle to moderate current. House it with similarly small, calm species; avoid boisterous or much larger tankmates that could outcompete it for food.
Breeding Pseudolaguvia ribeiroi
Overview
Pseudolaguvia ribeiroi is a tiny catfish of the family Erethistidae, reaching about 10 cm total length. FishBase records it from India and Nepal, with reports from Bangladesh, and notes that it inhabits pool and run areas of swift streams and is found in mountain rapids. The IUCN lists it as Least Concern (assessed 2009).
Common Challenges
Two obstacles dominate. There is no reproductive baseline in the consulted source, so sexing, conditioning and spawning triggers are unknown. In addition, the species comes from swift, oxygen-rich mountain streams, a habitat that is demanding to recreate and maintain in a home aquarium.