Edit Centromochlus reticulatus
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Name
Scientific name
Centromochlus reticulatus
Described by
Authority Mees, Year 1974, Bracketed
Family
Auchenipteridae
Common names
Reticulated Driftwood Catfish
Photograph credits
All 1 credited
Summary
The reticulated driftwood catfish, Centromochlus reticulatus, is a small auchenipterid first known from the upper Rupununi River basin in G…
Size and aquarium
Maximum size
27mm, standard length
Aquarium size
Minimum length 60 cm, Minimum depth 30 cm
Water
Water conditions
Temperature 22–28°C, pH 5–7.5
Hardness
1–12dGH
Conductivity
Not recorded
Behaviour
Temperament
Peaceful
Social needs
A shoal or group
Community suitability
Community-safe
Where it lives
Countries, regions, rivers and lakes
Brazil, Guyana, Amazon, Preto da Eva, Rupununi
Writing
Etymology
Centromochlus: from the Ancient Greek κεντέω (kentéo), meaning 'sting, prick' and μοχλός (mochlós), meaning 'lever', in reference to the prominent pectoral-fin…
Distribution
Initially known only from the upper Rupununi River basin in Guyana but it may have been overlooked elsewhere due to its secretive, mostly nocturnal behaviour. …
Habitat
In nature it takes refuge among submerged woody structures during the day, emerging to forage at night, and this habit gives rise to the common names of 'wood'…
Aquarium size
An aquarium with base dimensions of 60 ∗ 30 cm or equivalent should be the smallest considered for general care.
Maintenance
Not difficult to maintain under the correct conditions; we recommend keeping it in a tank designed to simulate a flowing stream with a substrate of variably-si…
Water conditions
Not written yet
Diet
Centromochlus species will accept most sinking dried foods, but particularly relish small live and frozen varieties such as bloodworm, Tubifex, etc. Once accli…
Behaviour and compatibility
A peaceful species which can be maintained in a well-chosen community alongside other small, quiet fishes. It's highly gregarious and ideally should be maintai…
Sexual dimorphism
Adult males possess an elongated, relatively pointed anal-fin while that of the female is rounded, and the urogenital papilla in males emerges from a small fla…
Reproduction
All members of the family Auchenipteridae are thought to practise internal insemination and females can carry mature, unfertilised eggs and sperm packets insid…
Notes
This species is sometimes traded as 'purple oil catfish' and is considered desirable in the aquarium hobby. The genus Centromochlus is diagnosable by members h…
References
References
3 on this profile