Butterfly moth catfish

Care at a glance

Overview

The butterfly moth catfish is a cryptic, night-active bottom dweller that disappears into litter and wood by day. It is peaceful but shy, so keep a few together and pair them with small, gentle fish rather than boisterous or large ones, or use a species tank, since they can be slow and picky when settling in. Offer fine sinking foods in the evening, such as frozen bloodworm, daphnia, baby brine shrimp and sinking pellets, and be patient while new fish learn to feed. Provide a mature tank of at least 54 liters with soft sand, driftwood, rockwork and shaded hiding places.

In the wild

It lives in gently flowing, well oxygenated waters of the Brahmaputra and Meghna basins in northeast India and Bangladesh, holding among sand, litter and submerged wood. Recreate that with a soft sand bottom, driftwood, smooth rocks and botanicals for cover, and clean, steady flow. Keep the water soft to medium and close to neutral, roughly pH 6.0 to 7.5, at 20 to 26 C, with subdued light.

Good to know

Erethistes pusillus is a moth catfish in the family Erethistidae, reaching about 5 cm, with serrated pectoral spines it can spread and lock like a pair of wings. Along with its relatives it wears rough, tuberculed skin and hunts small invertebrates at night. Breeding is not recorded in aquaria.

Did you know

Its name undersells it. Pusillus is Latin for very small or slight, yet the butterfly moth catfish is actually one of the larger moth cats you are likely to find in the aquarium trade.

Tank mates

Butterfly moth catfish is a peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.

• Narayan barb

  Pethia narayani

  Freshwater

  1.8 in (4.5 cm)14 gal (54 L)68–77°F (20–25°C)
• Fallax killifish

  Fundulopanchax fallax

  Freshwater

  3.5 in (9 cm)14 gal (54 L)68–77°F (20–25°C)
• Dwarf spineless eel

  Garo khajuriai

  Freshwater

  2.8 in (7 cm)14 gal (54 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
• Paraguay black otocinclus

  Otothyropsis piribebuy

  Freshwater

  1.4 in (3.5 cm)14 gal (54 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
• Arnold's killifish

  Fundulopanchax arnoldi

  Freshwater

  3 in (7.5 cm)14 gal (54 L)68–77°F (20–25°C)
• Pridi loach

  Schistura pridii

  Freshwater

  1.8 in (4.5 cm)14 gal (54 L)68–77°F (20–25°C)

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

Related species

• Filament moth catfish

  Hara filamentosa

  Freshwater

  2.4 in (6 cm)14 gal (54 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
• Harlequin moth catfish

  Pseudolaguvia ribeiroi

  Freshwater

  1.6 in (4 cm)11 gal (40 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)

• 

  Cheetah moth catfish

  Pseudolaguvia shawi

  Freshwater

  1.5 in (3.8 cm)11 gal (40 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)

• 

  Butterfly hara catfish

  Hara hara

  Freshwater

  3.1 in (8 cm)14 gal (54 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
• Elongate moth catfish

  Hara horai

  Freshwater

  3.1 in (8 cm)14 gal (54 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)

• 

  Rusty moth catfish

  Pseudolaguvia muricata

  Freshwater

  1.2 in (3 cm)11 gal (40 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)