Darkspotted catfish
Aspidoras fuscoguttatus
The Darkspotted catfish features a mottled brown and tan body with distinctive dark spots and elongated, slender fins.
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About the Darkspotted catfish
A tiny, spotty cousin of the corydoras that stays around an inch and a half, this catfish likes to scoot in little groups across sandy bottoms. It is a facultative air-breather and will dash up for a gulp, which is fun to watch in a calm community tank.
Also known as
Quick Facts
Size
3.8 cm SL
Temperament
Peaceful
Difficulty
Intermediate
Min Tank Size
15 gallons
Lifespan
5+ years
Origin
South America
Diet
Omnivore - sinking micro-pellets, wafers, frozen/live foods (bloodworms, brine shrimp), and quality flakes
Water Parameters
22-25°C
5.5-6.8
2-12 dGH
Need a heater for this species?
This species needs 22-25°C in a 15 gallon tank. Use our heater calculator to find the right wattage.
Calculate heater sizeCare Notes
- Start them in at least a 15-gallon tank and keep a group; this tiny South American catfish is social and spends its time scooting together over the bottom.
- Use fine sand as the substrate and skip sharp gravel; it protects their barbels and lets them sift naturally.
- Aim for soft, slightly acidic water: 22-25 C, pH 5.5-6.8, and 2-12 dGH, and keep conditions stable and clean.
- Feed a varied bottom-focused diet: sinking micro-pellets, wafers, quality flakes, plus small frozen or live foods like bloodworms and brine shrimp.
- Choose peaceful tankmates and avoid large or nippy fish that would stress a small bottom forager.
- They are facultative air-breathers; leave a clear path to the surface and keep the tank calm so their quick gulps are stress-free.
- Provide open sandy areas for group foraging with some cover, and remove uneaten food so the fine substrate stays clean; with good care they can pass 5 years.
Compatibility
Good Tankmates
- Small, calm soft-water tetras (ember, neon, green neon) that occupy midwater and will not pester bottom fish
- Pencilfish (Nannostomus spp.) - gentle top-mid swimmers that like similar soft, slightly acidic water
- Hatchetfish (Carnegiella spp.) - peaceful surface fish; great activity separation if the tank has a tight lid
- Otocinclus catfish - small, non-aggressive algae grazers that coexist well and share the same water range
- Other tiny, peaceful Corydoras/Aspidoras (Corydoras pygmaeus, C. hastatus, C. habrosus) if the footprint and food supply support multiple bottom shoals
- Peaceful inverts like adult Caridina shrimp and small snails; expect some predation on shrimp fry
Avoid
- Nippy or boisterous schooling fish (tiger barbs, serpae tetras, Buenos Aires tetras) that harass small tankmates
- Territorial cichlids, including dwarf cichlids when breeding (angelfish, convicts, rams, Apistogramma), which claim the bottom and strike at catfish
- Any fish large enough to eat a 3.8 cm catfish (adult angelfish, larger cichlids, big barbs)
- Big or very active bottom competitors and clawed inverts (common plecos, clown/yo-yo loaches, red-tailed black sharks, crayfish) that outcompete or injure them
Darkspotted catfish (Aspidoras fuscoguttatus) is a tiny, spotted South American callichthyid related to Corydoras. Topping out around 3.8 cm SL, it spends its time scooting over fine substrates in little groups, pausing to dash up for a gulp of air. Peaceful and personable, it does best in a calm community and can live 5+ years with steady care.
Origin and natural habitat
South America. In the wild, aspidoras are typically found in shallow waters over fine sand with scattered leaf litter and wood, often in gentle flow and soft, slightly acidic conditions. Building your tank around that idea works well for this species.
Aquarium setup and water conditions
- Minimum tank size: 15 US gallons (gives a small group room to forage together)
- Temperature: 22-25 C
- pH: 5.5-6.8
- Hardness: 2-12 dGH
Use a soft, fine sand substrate to protect their short sensory barbels. Add driftwood, rounded stones, and leaf litter or botanicals to create shaded pockets. Live plants are welcome but not required. Provide gentle filtration with good oxygenation and modest current; they are facultative air-breathers, but consistent, clean water keeps them active and healthy.
Keep a tight-fitting lid. This species makes quick surface dashes to gulp air and can jump through gaps.
Avoid sharp gravel and neglected substrate. Rough or dirty bottoms commonly lead to barbel wear and infections in small bottom catfish.
Diet and feeding
Omnivore. Offer a mix of sinking micro-pellets and wafers along with small frozen or live foods such as bloodworms and brine shrimp. Quality flakes can be used if they reach the bottom in bite-sized pieces.
- Target feed the bottom so midwater fish do not take everything first.
- Small, frequent meals are better than large dumps of food.
- Rotate foods to support good condition and color.
Do not expect them to live on leftovers. Like other small bottom catfish, they need dedicated, sinking foods delivered to their zone.
Behaviour and tankmates
Peaceful and social, this nano catfish is most confident in a small group. It spends most of its time on the bottom, sifting and pecking, then occasionally darting up for air. It suits calm community tanks with similarly gentle species.
- Good companions: small, peaceful characins and other non-boisterous fish that enjoy soft, slightly acidic water.
- Avoid: large or nippy tankmates and heavy-footed species that dominate the bottom or create excessive turbulence.
Common issues and how to prevent them
- Barbel erosion: use fine sand and keep the substrate clean; perform regular water changes.
- Underfeeding: target sinking foods; do not rely on scraps from surface feeders.
- Stress from water chemistry: stay within 22-25 C, pH 5.5-6.8, and 2-12 dGH; make changes gradually.
- Jumping during air gulps: keep a tight lid and cover cable cutouts.
- Shyness in singles: keep a small group so they forage naturally and stay active.
Care level: intermediate. Success hinges on soft, clean water, fine substrate, and mindful feeding to the bottom. Life expectancy is 5+ years under steady, low-stress conditions.
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