Harlequin moth catfish

Pseudolaguvia ribeiroi

Also known as Painted moth cat, Harlequin catfish

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature: 68–79°F (20–26°C)
pH: 6.0–7.5
Adult size: 1.6 in (4 cm)
Minimum tank: 11 gal (40 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Social
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: No record
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Ganges and Brahmaputra foothills
Family: Erethistidae

Overview

The harlequin moth catfish is a small, boldly saddled micro-catfish that likes clean, flowing water over gravel. It is a peaceful, sociable fish, so keep several together and give them calm, small tankmates that will not outcompete them, or a quiet species setup. They shelter among stones by day and feed at night, so offer fine sinking foods in the evening, such as frozen daphnia, microworm, baby brine shrimp and small sinking wafers. A tank of at least 40 liters with fine sand or gravel, pebbles and a gentle current suits a troupe.

In the wild

It lives in clear, flowing foothill streams of the Ganges and Brahmaputra drainages in Nepal and northern India, over sand, gravel and stone. Recreate that with a sand and fine-gravel bottom, water-worn pebbles for cover, and steady, well oxygenated flow from good filtration. Keep the water close to neutral, about pH 6.0 to 7.5, at 20 to 26 C, clean and stable.

Good to know

Pseudolaguvia ribeiroi, also called the painted catfish, is a moth catfish in the family Erethistidae reaching about 4 cm. It wears contrasting cream and dark saddle bands that break up its outline against a stony bottom, and has the rough skin and locking fin spines typical of the group. Its breeding is not recorded in home aquaria.

Did you know

It answers to two names for one coat. This species is sold as both the harlequin and the painted moth catfish, each a nod to the bold, jester-like saddle bands that set it apart from its plainer relatives.

Tank mates

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