Dwarf driftwood catfish

Tatia gyrina

Also known as Tadpole tatia

FreshwaterFish

Dwarf driftwood catfish (Tatia gyrina) — The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature: 73–82°F (23–28°C)
pH: 6.0–7.5
Adult size: 1.8 in (4.5 cm)
Minimum tank: 14 gal (54 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Social
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: No record
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Upper Amazon, Peru and Ecuador
Family: Auchenipteridae

Overview

The dwarf driftwood catfish is a tiny, peaceful nocturnal woodcat that hides all day and appears at feeding time. It is social, so keep a small group, and give it wood and tight crevices to pack into while the lights are on. By day you may not see it at all; after dark it comes out to forage. Keep it only with small, calm tankmates, since it is shy and easily outcompeted, and offer sinking foods in the evening, small frozen items like bloodworm along with sinking pellets. A quiet, well-covered tank of around 54 liters or more suits a group.

In the wild

Tatia gyrina lives among submerged wood and root tangles in quiet creeks of the upper Amazon in Peru and Ecuador, sheltering in cracks by day. A tank full of driftwood, branches, and shaded hiding spots gives it the crevices it wants. Keep the water soft, warm, and slightly acidic, around 23–28 C and pH 6.0–7.5, with gentle flow and dim or well-shaded lighting.

Good to know

Tatia gyrina belongs to Auchenipteridae, the driftwood catfishes, and stays small at about 4.5 centimeters. Its species name points to its rounded, tadpole-like shape. Like others in the family it uses internal fertilization: a male passes sperm to the female through a modified anal fin, and she can carry it and spawn later. Home breeding is essentially unrecorded.

Did you know

Because the male fertilizes the female internally and she can store his sperm, a single female moved into a new tank can sometimes lay fertile eggs weeks later, with no male anywhere in sight.

Tank mates

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