TankBud

Banded sisorid catfish

Glyptothorax buchanani

Also known as Buchanan's torrent cat

FreshwaterFish

Banded sisorid catfish (Glyptothorax buchanani)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
68–79°F
20–26°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
2.8 in
7 cm
Minimum tank
29 gal
110 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Rare
Family
Sisoridae
Origin
Chao Phraya and Mekong basins

Overview

The banded sisorid catfish is a small, peaceful hillstream catfish built to live in fast water. It is best kept by someone with a little experience.

Did you know

The banded sisorid catfish has a pale, ridged patch on its chest that works as a suction pad. The pad is formed from folded skin and bone. It lets the fish lock onto bare rock and hold position in current strong enough to sweep most fish away.

Caring for the banded sisorid catfish

Give banded sisorid catfish a river-style tank of at least 29 gal (110 L). Use smooth stones and rounded gravel, with strong flow from a powerhead or river manifold and heavy oxygenation. The flow, oxygen and clean water matter more than any decor.

Keep the water cool and clean, at 68 to 79°F (20 to 26°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Warm, still water suits it poorly. Feed sinking foods delivered into the current, such as frozen bloodworm, small pellets and algae-based tablets.

The banded sisorid catfish is social and settles best in a small group. It clings to stone and glass and works the flow for food. It is no threat to other fish and does well with current-loving, cool-water species of similar size. Breeding is not recorded in aquaria.

Good to know

Glyptothorax buchanani is a torrent catfish of the family Sisoridae. Its genus name means carved chest, for the ridged pad on its underside. The species honors Francis Buchanan-Hamilton, an early surveyor of South Asian fishes. It is also called Buchanan's torrent cat.

In the wild

The banded sisorid catfish lives in clear, fast hill streams of the Chao Phraya and Mekong basins and neighboring Thai rivers. It grips cobbles in riffles and rapids.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The banded sisorid catfish is a peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a banded sisorid catfish need?

A banded sisorid catfish needs at least 29 gal (110 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a banded sisorid catfish need?

A banded sisorid catfish is comfortable at 68–79°F (20–26°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a banded sisorid catfish eat?

A banded sisorid catfish eats sinking foods delivered into the current. Offer it frozen bloodworm, small pellets and algae-based tablets.

How big does a banded sisorid catfish get?

An adult banded sisorid catfish reaches about 2.8 in (7 cm).

Related species