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Flagtail catfish

Dianema urostriatum

Also known as Flagtail Porthole Cat

FreshwaterFish

Flagtail catfish (Dianema urostriatum)
Haplochromis · Public domain

Care at a glance

Temperature
77–82°F
25–28°C
pH
6.0–8.0
Adult size
4.9 in
12.5 cm
Minimum tank
40 gal
150 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Rare
Family
Callichthyidae
Origin
Brazil

Overview

The flagtail catfish is a peaceful, lively catfish for a large community tank, and a step up from the easiest fish.

Did you know

The flagtail catfish is named for its tail, with alternating black and white horizontal stripes that wave like a flag as it cruises. Its scientific name, urostriatum, means striped tail.

Caring for the flagtail catfish

Flagtail catfish are large and active, so give them 40 gal (150 L) or more. Furnish the tank with a soft substrate, driftwood and planted or shaded areas, and leave open swimming space. Keep a secure lid on the tank.

Keep the water warm, at 77 to 82°F (25 to 28°C), with gentle flow. It should stay clean and well oxygenated, and they tolerate a broad pH of 6.0 to 8.0. Feed sinking pellets and prepared sinking foods, plus frozen and live foods such as bloodworm and earthworm pieces.

Flagtail catfish are peaceful and like company, so keep four to six or more if you can. They forage along the bottom but often rise into open water during the day. Keep them with other calm, medium-sized community fish.

Flagtail catfish have limited and varied reports of home spawning. Some describe a bubble nest and others eggs laid on cover, so there is no firm rating for how hard they are to breed.

Good to know

The flagtail catfish, Dianema urostriatum, is an elongated armored catfish of the family Callichthyidae. Another name for it is the flagtail porthole cat.

In the wild

The flagtail catfish comes from the warm, soft, slow waters of the central Amazon around Manaus in Brazil.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The flagtail 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 flagtail catfish need?

A flagtail catfish needs at least 40 gal (150 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a flagtail catfish need?

A flagtail catfish is comfortable at 77–82°F (25–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–8.0.

What does a flagtail catfish eat?

A flagtail catfish eats sinking pellets and prepared sinking foods. It also takes frozen and live foods such as bloodworm and earthworm pieces.

How big does a flagtail catfish get?

An adult flagtail catfish reaches about 4.9 in (12.5 cm).

How does a flagtail catfish breed?

Flagtail catfish have few home spawning reports, and those vary. Some describe a bubble nest, and others describe eggs laid on cover.

Related species