Ninja tatia

Centromochlus musaicus

Also known as Tatia musaica, Ninja woodcat, Mosaic tatia

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature: 73–82°F (23–28°C)
pH: 6.0–7.5
Adult size: 2.4 in (6 cm)
Minimum tank: 21 gal (80 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Social
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: No record
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Upper Orinoco and Atabapo drainages
Family: Auchenipteridae

Overview

The ninja tatia is a small, boldly marked woodcat that hides in wood by day and darts out after dark. It is social and does best in a group of five or six or more, which brings it out and lets it show natural schooling behavior once it is settled. It is peaceful and safe with tankmates too large to swallow, but small fish and shrimp are fair game, so pick companions of a similar size. Feed in the evening with small meaty foods, bloodworm, daphnia, and sinking catfish tablets. Give it a soft-sand tank of around 80 liters or more with driftwood and plenty of crevices.

In the wild

Centromochlus musaicus comes from blackwater reaches of the upper Orinoco and Atabapo, sheltering in submerged wood in soft, acidic, tannin-dark water. A tank with fine sand, generous driftwood, and shaded lighting mirrors that home. Keep it warm and soft at 23–28 C and around pH 6.0–7.5 with gentle flow, and botanicals or leaf litter help hold the blackwater feel.

Good to know

Centromochlus musaicus, widely sold as Tatia musaica, is a driftwood catfish of the family Auchenipteridae reaching about 6 centimeters. Its common and species names both come from its mosaic of black and white blocks. Like other woodcats it fertilizes internally by way of a modified anal fin, and aquarium breeding is not on record.

Did you know

Its blocky black-and-white pattern is a form of disruptive camouflage. Against dappled, shadow-broken wood the hard-edged mosaic breaks up the fish's outline, so the eye reads patches of light and dark rather than a whole animal.