Honeycomb Catfish / Oilfish

Scientific Name(s): Centromochlus perugiae, Tatia perugiae, Tatia reticularis

Common Name(s): Honeycomb Tatia, Oil woodcatfish

Family: Auchenipteridae

Temp: 76 - 84

pH: 6 - 8 versatile
hardness: 5 - 15 degrees

Species Type: South American Catfish

Maximum Size: 3 inches

Life Span: 5 years

Natural Habitat: South American rivers

Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons

Tank Region: Bottom but everywhere at night.

Possible Tank Mates: Peaceful Community fish.

Breeding Information: Achieved in much the same way as loricariids--heavy feeding, supplemented by a sharp decrease in temperature, followed by a a gradual increase in temp. An internally fertilizing catfish, the female should be isolated following breeding. This fish is a cave spawner.

Sexing Information: Females tend to be broader and longer than males.

Diet: Carvivorus - does best with sinking worms type foods such as tubifex worms.

Temperment: Peaceful community fish

Description: Though a bottom dwelling species, come dusk, they will traverse all strata of the water column--for such a non aerodynamic (or aquadynamic, if you will) body structure, they are surprisingly strong swimmers. When the tank lights go out, these fish seemingly spring to life. During daylight hours, it is possible to handle, and even remove individuals from the water without much resistance.