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Danny Blundell (3) Allan James (6) Frants Lehmann (1 stamp) Peru Aquarium Group (1) Caio Feltrin (2)

Found in extreme environments, from anoxic conditions (slack water zones bordered by dense vegetation) to slightly turbid but free flowing streams. When its biotope becomes dry, it can move out of the water, due to its ability to breathe intestinally, in order to find another aquatic environment. Aquarium Care: Very adaptable to water conditions and can be housed with most other fish as long as they are not too small or overly aggressive. More than one can be kept or in groups of 5 or more: minimum aquarium size 120 cm. May be prone to digging and uprooting plants. Reproduction: During reproduction, the male's belly and first pectoral fin spine turns orange and becomes longer and thicker. The male builds a bubble nest with some floating plants, strongly guarding it after the female lays down her eggs (up to 120). Diet: Feeds at night on fish, insects and plant matter. Juveniles feed on rotifers, in addition to the micro-crustaceans and aquatic insect larvae they find when digging into the substrate.

Armoured Catfish, Cascarudo

Callichthys asper, C.coelatus, C.laeviceps, C.loricatus, C.tamoata, Cataphractus callichthys, C.depressus, Silurus callichthys.

Callichthyidae

South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Surinam, Trinidad  & Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela.

18.0cm (7ins)

20-27°C (68-81°F)

6.0-8.0.

Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2009. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version (01/2011).
ScotCat Factsheet no. 95. May 2004.