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Dwarf thorny catfish

Physopyxis lyra

Also known as South American moth cat, Lyra catfish

FreshwaterFish

Dwarf thorny catfish (Physopyxis lyra)

Care at a glance

Temperature
73–82°F
23–28°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
1.4 in
3.5 cm
Minimum tank
11 gal
40 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Rare
Family
Doradidae
Origin
Amazon basin leaf litter zones

Overview

The dwarf thorny catfish is a tiny, cryptic armored catfish that lives its whole life in and around leaf litter. It is a step up from the easiest fish.

Did you know

The dwarf thorny catfish is the smallest of all the thorny catfishes. It still carries the full set of bony plates and hooked flank scutes found on its much larger relatives. A grown one is roughly the size of one of the fallen leaves it likes to hide beneath.

Caring for the dwarf thorny catfish

Leaf litter is habitat for the dwarf thorny catfish, not decoration. Build the tank around a deep bed of leaves and botanicals over soft sand, with some small wood. A modest tank of at least 11 gal (40 L) is plenty for a group, and the light should stay subdued.

Keep the water calm, gently filtered, soft and slightly acidic to neutral. Aim for 73 to 82°F (23 to 28°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Tannins leaching from the leaves suit it.

Feed small sinking foods, micro pellets and frozen items such as cyclops and baby brine shrimp. Work the food down among the leaves.

The dwarf thorny catfish is peaceful and sociable, and best kept in a small group. Share its tank only with equally small, gentle fish, since anything larger will simply outcompete or eat it. Its breeding is not documented in aquariums.

Good to know

The dwarf thorny catfish belongs to the family Doradidae, which ranges from this species all the way up to the meter-long ripsaw catfish, Oxydoras niger. Even at its miniature size, it can make faint stridulation sounds.

In the wild

Physopyxis lyra lives in the Amazon and Essequibo basins, in warm, very shallow water among drifts of submerged leaves and waterlogged wood.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The dwarf thorny 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 dwarf thorny catfish need?

A dwarf thorny catfish needs at least 11 gal (40 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a dwarf thorny catfish need?

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

What does a dwarf thorny catfish eat?

A dwarf thorny catfish eats small sinking foods, micro pellets and frozen items such as cyclops and baby brine shrimp. Work the food down among the leaves.

How big does a dwarf thorny catfish get?

An adult dwarf thorny catfish reaches about 1.4 in (3.5 cm).

Related species