TankBud

Porthole catfish

Dianema longibarbis

FreshwaterFish

Porthole catfish (Dianema longibarbis)
Ckf6412 · CC BY-SA 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–82°F
24–28°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
3.9 in
10 cm
Minimum tank
26 gal
100 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
Bubble nester · Hard
Rarity
Common
Family
Callichthyidae
Origin
Amazon basin (Peru, Brazil)

Overview

The porthole catfish is a peaceful bottom dweller that suits a community of small, gentle fish. It is easy to keep.

Did you know

The porthole catfish breathes air, like other catfish in its family. It darts up to the surface, gulps a mouthful and absorbs oxygen through the lining of its gut. That lets it cope with the low-oxygen pools it lives in.

Caring for the porthole catfish

Porthole catfish are fine alone, but they are far more active and outgoing in a group of at least four. Give them a tank of at least 26 gal (100 L) with a soft sand substrate. Coarse gravel wears down the long, sensitive barbels they use to feel for food.

Add some driftwood and shaded cover. Porthole catfish can jump, so keep a tight lid on the tank. Leave a gap of air beneath it for their trips to the surface.

Keep the water soft and slightly acidic, at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) and a pH of 5.5 to 7.5. Feed sinking pellets, frozen foods such as bloodworms and the odd bit of vegetable matter.

Porthole catfish are peaceful and will not harm even tiny tank mates. They build a bubble nest at the surface, and breeding them is hard.

Good to know

The porthole catfish is a member of the family Callichthyidae, the armored catfishes. Because it is rarely bred in captivity, most porthole catfish in the trade are wild caught. With good care it is long-lived and can stay with you for many years.

In the wild

Porthole catfish come from the Amazon basin in Peru and Brazil. They move along the soft bottoms of slow rivers and flooded forest pools, where the water is dim and stained with tannins.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The porthole 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 porthole catfish need?

A porthole catfish needs at least 26 gal (100 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a porthole catfish need?

A porthole catfish is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.5.

What does a porthole catfish eat?

A porthole catfish eats sinking pellets, frozen foods such as bloodworms and the odd bit of vegetable matter.

How big does a porthole catfish get?

An adult porthole catfish reaches about 3.9 in (10 cm).

How does a porthole catfish breed?

Porthole catfish build a bubble nest at the surface. Breeding them is hard.

Related species