Filament moth catfish
Hara filamentosa
Also known as Erethistes filamentosa
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 68–79°F (20–26°C)
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Adult size
- 2.4 in (6 cm)
- Minimum tank
- 14 gal (54 L)
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Common
- Origin
- Irrawaddy and Salween basins
- Family
- Erethistidae
Overview
A small nocturnal catfish that spends the day tucked under wood or leaf litter and works the floor after dark. Keep a group of four or more in 54 liters with sand, leaf litter and cool-leaning water. It is entirely peaceful and safe with anything, but it will not compete for food, so feed sinking foods in the evening once the lights are off. Adult shrimp are safe; shrimplets are not.
In the wild
Hara filamentosa lives in the Irrawaddy and Salween basins, in clear streams over sand and gravel that run cooler than lowland tropical water. Keep it at 20 to 26 degrees Celsius and pH 6.0 to 7.5, with gentle flow, leaf litter and clean water.
Good to know
Hara filamentosa reaches about 6 centimeters and is named for the long trailing extensions on the pectoral fins and upper tail lobe. Like other erethistids it has a locking, serrated pectoral spine that tangles badly in a net, so it should be moved in a cup. It is sometimes still listed under Erethistes.
Did you know
Even its spines end in thread; the moth cat frays at every edge by design.
Tank mates
Filament moth catfish is a peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.
Butterfly moth catfish
Erethistes pusillusFreshwater2 in (5 cm)14 gal (54 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Panda darter tetra
Aphyocharax nattereriFreshwater1.4 in (3.5 cm)14 gal (54 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Singa panchax
Epiplatys singaFreshwater2.4 in (6 cm)14 gal (54 L)68–77°F (20–25°C)Assam banded loach
Neonoemacheilus assamensisFreshwater1.8 in (4.5 cm)14 gal (54 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)Rosy loach
Petruichthys sp. 'rosy'Freshwater1.2 in (3 cm)14 gal (54 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Amiet's lyretail
Fundulopanchax amietiFreshwater2.8 in (7 cm)14 gal (54 L)68–77°F (20–25°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Filament moth catfish need?
A Filament moth catfish needs at least 14 gal (54 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH do Filament moth catfish need?
Filament moth catfish are comfortable at 68–79°F (20–26°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
How big do Filament moth catfish get?
An adult Filament moth catfish reaches about 2.4 in (6 cm).
Where to buy
Some links may not be the exact species or variety.
- Aquatic Arts Freshwater fish, shrimp and snails with an arrive-alive guarantee
- The Wet Spot Tropical Fish Large selection of quarantined tropical freshwater fish, with live arrival guarantee and Next Day Air flat rate shipping to all US locations
…or ask your local fish store.
Appears in
Keeping Filament moth catfish?
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Planning tankmates
See how Filament moth catfish fits a stocking plan. Open the stocking calculator
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Related species
Butterfly hara catfish
Hara haraFreshwater3.1 in (8 cm)14 gal (54 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)Elongate moth catfish
Hara horaiFreshwater3.1 in (8 cm)14 gal (54 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)Burmese mini moth catfish
Hara minusculaFreshwater1.2 in (3 cm)11 gal (40 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)Butterfly moth catfish
Erethistes pusillusFreshwater2 in (5 cm)14 gal (54 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)Harlequin moth catfish
Pseudolaguvia ribeiroiFreshwater1.6 in (4 cm)11 gal (40 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Cheetah moth catfish
Pseudolaguvia shawiFreshwater1.5 in (3.8 cm)11 gal (40 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)