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Honeycomb tatia

Duringlanis altae

Also known as Honeycomb driftwood catfish

FreshwaterFish

Honeycomb tatia (Duringlanis altae)

Care at a glance

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

Overview

The honeycomb tatia is a small, patterned woodcat that owns the first hour after lights-out. It is a peaceful catfish for a calm community, best with a little experience.

Did you know

A whole group of honeycomb tatias will pack into one crevice by day, noses pointed out. Their honeycomb markings line up, so the crack looks less like a hiding place full of fish than a patterned piece of wood.

Caring for the honeycomb tatia

Keep honeycomb tatias in a small group in a tank of at least 14 gal (54 L). Fill it with driftwood, branches and tangles that offer narrow cracks for the group to share, and shade the lighting. A well-planted tank with a scatter of leaf litter suits them.

Give them soft, slightly acidic water at 73 to 82°F (23 to 28°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5, with gentle flow. They spend daylight jammed into wood cracks and come out after dark to hunt near the surface for small invertebrates. Feed after lights-out with sinking and frozen foods such as bloodworm and daphnia.

The honeycomb tatia is peaceful but easily outcompeted, so keep it with small, gentle tank mates and nothing pushy at feeding time. Like all woodcats it fertilizes internally through a modified anal fin. Spawning it in the aquarium is not on record.

Good to know

The honeycomb tatia is a dwarf driftwood catfish in the family Auchenipteridae, patterned in cream and brown like honeycomb. It was long placed in Centromochlus before being moved to its current genus, Duringlanis. It is also sold as the honeycomb driftwood catfish.

In the wild

The honeycomb tatia comes from the upper Amazon in Colombia and Peru. It lives among sunken wood in soft, warm, tea-stained streams.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The honeycomb tatia 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 honeycomb tatia need?

A honeycomb tatia needs at least 14 gal (54 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a honeycomb tatia need?

A honeycomb tatia is comfortable at 73–82°F (23–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a honeycomb tatia eat?

A honeycomb tatia eats sinking and frozen foods, such as bloodworm and daphnia. Feed it after dark, when it comes out to hunt small invertebrates.

How big does a honeycomb tatia get?

An adult honeycomb tatia reaches about 1.6 in (4 cm).

How does a honeycomb tatia breed?

A honeycomb tatia fertilizes internally through a modified anal fin, like all woodcats. Spawning it in the aquarium is not on record.

Related species