Aspidoras spilotus NIJSSEN & ISBRÜCKER, 1976

C125

Etymology

Aspidoras: from the Ancient Greek ἀσπίς (aspis), meaning ‘shield’, and δορά (dora), meaning ‘skin, hide of an animal’, in allusion to the rows of bony plates on the flanks of genus members.

spilotus: from the Latin spilotus, meaning ‘spotted’.

Classification

Order: Siluriformes Family: Callichthyidae

Distribution

Restricted to coastal river drainages in Ceará state, northeastern Brazil.

Type locality is ‘Riacho dos Macacos, tributary of River Acaráu, Ceará State, Brazil’.

Maximum Standard Length

40 – 45 mm.

Aquarium SizeTop ↑

An aquarium with minimum base dimensions of 60 ∗ 30 cm or more is recommended.

Maintenance

Ideally use a substrate of fine sand, although rounded gravel is an acceptable alternative provided it’s kept scrupulously clean.

Other décor is largely down to personal choice, but some cover should be provided to give the fish security.

This species requires stable, clean water conditions and should never be added to a biologically immature set-up.

Water Conditions

Temperature: 20 – 25 °C

pH: 6.0 – 7.5

Hardness: 36 – 215 ppm

Diet

Aspidoras spp. are foraging omnivores and will accept most sinking dried foods, as well as small live and frozen varieties such as chironomid larvae (bloodworm), Tubifex, etc.

Feeding a varied diet will ensure the fish are in optimum condition.

Under no circumstances should they be expected to survive on ‘left-overs’ from other inhabitants of the aquarium or relied on to ‘clean’ the aquarium.

Behaviour and CompatibilityTop ↑

Peaceful and gregarious. Should be maintained in a  group of at least 4-6 individuals.

Sexual Dimorphism

Females tend to grow larger, and sexually mature individuals are noticeably rounder and broader-bodied than males, especially when gravid.

References

1. Nijssen, H. and I. J. H. Isbrücker, 1976 - Bijdragen tot de Dierkunde 46(1): 107-131
   The South American plated catfish genus Aspidoras R. von Ihering, 1907, with descriptions of nine new species from Brazil (Pisces, Siluriformes, Callichthyidae).
2. Ferraris, C. J., Jr., 2007 - Zootaxa 1418: 1-628
   Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types.
3. Reis, R. E. , S. O. Kullander and C. J. Ferraris, Jr. (eds), 2003 - EDIPUCRS, Porto Alegre: i-xi + 1-729
   Check list of the freshwater fishes of South and Central America. CLOFFSCA.