Imitator catfish
Brachyrhamdia imitator
Also known as Corydoras-mimic catfish
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–82°F
- 23–28°C
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Adult size
- 2.2 in
- 5.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 30 gal
- 112 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Heptapteridae
- Origin
- Upper Negro and Orinoco drainages
Overview
The Imitator catfish is a small, peaceful catfish for the bottom of a calm community tank. It is a step up from the easiest fish.
Caring for the Imitator catfish
A group of Imitator catfish suits a tank of around 30 gal (112 L) or more. It works the bottom, sifting sand and picking at small foods, so give it a soft sand floor. Add driftwood, leaf litter and dim light, since a quiet, well-shaded tank brings out its natural shoaling behavior.
Keep the water soft and warm, at 73 to 82°F (23 to 28°C), with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Feed sinking pellets, crushed wafers and small frozen foods such as bloodworm and daphnia. Make sure enough reaches the substrate.
It is fine alone or in a group, but it is far more relaxed in company. Keep it with its own kind and, if you can, alongside a shoal of the corys it mimics. It is peaceful, so choose gentle tank mates. It has not been bred in captivity on record.
Good to know
Brachyrhamdia imitator is a naked, or scaleless, catfish in the family Heptapteridae. It is a documented mimic of Corydoras melanistius, matching its colors and pattern closely.
In the wild
The Imitator catfish lives in blackwater creeks and flooded forest of the upper Negro and Orinoco drainages. The water there is soft and stained with tannins.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The Imitator 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.
Redfin halfbeak
Nomorhamphus ebrardtii
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Moolenburgh's glass catfish
Pseudeutropius moolenburghae
Freshwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 30 gal (112 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Painted talking catfish
Acanthodoras cataphractus
Freshwater4.5 in (11.5 cm) · 30 gal (112 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Striped panchax
Aplocheilus lineatus
Freshwater4.3 in (11 cm) · 30 gal (115 L)72–77°F (22–25°C)
Brichard's Congo tetra
Alestopetersius brichardi
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Kullander's dwarf cichlid
Apistogramma kullanderi
Freshwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Common questions
What size tank does an Imitator catfish need?
An Imitator catfish needs at least 30 gal (112 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does an Imitator catfish need?
An Imitator catfish is comfortable at 73–82°F (23–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
What does an Imitator catfish eat?
An Imitator catfish eats sinking pellets, crushed wafers and small frozen foods such as bloodworm and daphnia. Make sure enough reaches the substrate.
How big does an Imitator catfish get?
An adult Imitator catfish reaches about 2.2 in (5.5 cm).
How does an Imitator catfish breed?
The Imitator catfish has not been bred in captivity on record.
Related species
2.4 in (6 cm)30 gal (112 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Mees' antenna catfish
Brachyrhamdia meesi
2.4 in (6 cm) · 30 gal (112 L)
1.8 in (4.5 cm)14 gal (54 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Phantasia catfish
Cetopsorhamdia phantasia
1.8 in (4.5 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)
6.7 in (17 cm)40 gal (150 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Slender catfish
Pimelodella gracilis
6.7 in (17 cm) · 40 gal (150 L)
11.4 in (29 cm)106 gal (400 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Horsehead catfish
Goeldiella eques
11.4 in (29 cm) · 106 gal (400 L)
2.2 in (5.5 cm)14 gal (54 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)African algae-eating goby
Parasicydium bandama
2.2 in (5.5 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)
2.2 in (5.5 cm)16 gal (60 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Bluespotted cory
Hoplisoma melanistium
2.2 in (5.5 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)