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he Astroblepidae family is little known as they prefer cool water and are not kept very often in the hobby due to their exact requirements. But nonetheless they are very interesting especially in their climbing habits.

Astroblepus mancoi

Fishes of the family Astroblepidae (and its one valid genus Astroblepus Humboldt, 1805) are found in freshwaters streams (between 200 to 13,400 feet above sea level) of the tropical Andes from Panama to Bolivia, and occur in both the western Pacific and eastern Amazonian slope drainage systems in South and Central America.

Astroblepids are closely related to the Loricariids, and in fact one genus of fish (Lithogenes Eigenman, 1909) seems intermediate between the two families, having the shape and form of an Astroblepid, but some plates on the body and other morphological characters closer to Loricariids. Astroblepids are distinguished from loricariids by the naked body, which is covered by bony plates in loricariids. At the time of writing, Lithogenes is currently placed in Loricariidae.

Astroblepus mancoi - ventral view with the suckermouth and the attachment apparatus on the belly

The images above were taken by myself in the field at an altitude of 1471m and a water temperature of 15.6C (60.1F). We found Astroblepus in the Madre De Dios region between 443m (1453ft) to 1471m (4826ft) high but never below 443m.

Upper Ucayali River basin and the Madre De Dios region Peru

Tiger stargazer catfish

None

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South America: Upper Ucayali River basin and the Madre De Dios region Peru. Type locality: le haut, Peru.

8.0cm. (3¼ins)

15-20°c (57-67°f.)

The family Astroblepidae have the head and body depressed, flattened and not covered by an armour of dermal scutes. Two pairs of barbels, one maxillary and one nasal. The dorsal fin is short with 6 to 7 rays that is provided with a stout spine. An adipose fin is either present or absent and when present it is often long and low with a stout spine. The mouth is inferior, with the lips expanded and forming a sucker.

Not an easy family of catfishes to keep as they would have to have a large tank with rocks and some appropriate vegetation. The water would need to be fast flowing and provided with extra oxygen via an air tube fed into the powerhead flow. The tank should be set up with rocks so as to provide an area where the water current will be slower. Any fast water fishes could be added that are used to cooler water temperatures.

Not recorded.

Males have an elongate urogenital papilla that apparently functions as an intromittent organ.

Invertebrates, insect larvae, spirulina tablets or paste, algae based foods and live bloodworm would probably be the staple diet but you may wish to try glassworm and blackworm (although these won’t tend to stay on the substrate unless the current takes them there).

Caudal fin: The tail.
Dorsal fin: The primary rayed fin(s) on top of the body.
Adipose fin: Fleshy finlike projection without rays, behind the rayed dorsal fin.
Maxillary barbels: Pertaining to the upper jaw (maxillary barbels).
Nasal barbels: On top of the head, by the nostrils. (nasal barbels).
Opercula: The bony covering of the gills of fishes.

Astroblepus: Astron = star; blepos = look.
macoi: For the Inca Ayar Manco, coloniser of Cuzco, the “Moses of the Peruvian Indians”, who, about 1100 A.D. led the exodus from Tampu-tocco.” (Eigenmann & Allen, 1942)

Burgess, W.E., 1989. An atlas of freshwater and marine catfishes. A preliminary survey of the Siluriformes. T.F.H. Publications, Inc., Neptune City, New Jersey (USA). 784 p.
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2017. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, ( 02/2017 ).
Google Maps: 2019.
Grant; Steven, The Aquarium Gazette: Issue 1; February/March 2008; ASTROBLEPUS.
www.aquariumglaser.de
www.gowildperu.com

Photo Credits

© Allan James @