Thorichthys callolepis Breeding Guide
Breeding Thorichthys callolepis, a biparental substrate-spawning firemouth relative from the Coatzacoalcos drainage with comparatively small clutches.
Overview
Thorichthys callolepis is a firemouth relative endemic to the Coatzacoalcos River drainage in Mexico, where it inhabits the faster-flowing upper reaches and headwaters over rocky substrate. FishBase records a maximum length of about 14 cm SL. It is a biparental substrate spawner, notable as the only Thorichthys lacking the characteristic gill-cover eye spot.
Conditioning
In the wild, reproduction begins in the last months of the dry season around February, when the water is warmer and the flow is gentler. To bring fish into condition, AquaInfo recommends keeping temperature no higher than about 25 C and changing roughly half the water each week. FishBase lists a temperature range of 24-26 C and a pH from about 7.9 upward.
Breeding Setup
- Provide a small stone or flat surface on the sheltered bank area, which the pair will select as a spawning site.
- Use sand substrate suited to a fish that sifts the bottom for food.
- Reported aquarium parameters: pH 7.0-8.0, hardness around 6-16 dGH.
- A tank of roughly 200 L suits a pair.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Warmer water and reduced flow trigger spawning. The pair seeks out sheltered banks; both fish flare their red gill membranes and perform jerking displays. Clutches are smaller than in other Thorichthys, averaging no more than about 200 eggs in the wild and considerably fewer in the aquarium. Eggs are oval, amber-coloured and inconspicuous.
Egg & Fry Care
Eggs hatch after about 48 hours, and the fry become free-swimming after roughly 5 to 6 days. Both parents tend the brood intensely, defending the young decisively against much larger fish. Young leave their parents after about two months, when they are just over an inch in size.
Common Challenges
The species is comparatively mild but still defends spawns vigorously, so house breeders with robust, non-aggressive tankmates. Small aquarium clutches mean lower fry yields, so allowing the pair to settle and gain size improves results.