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Pygmy driftwood catfish

Trachelyichthys exilis

Also known as Peruvian Wood Cat

FreshwaterFish

Pygmy driftwood catfish (Trachelyichthys exilis)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–77°F
22–25°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
3.1 in
8 cm
Minimum tank
21 gal
80 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Rare
Family
Auchenipteridae
Origin
Peru

Overview

The pygmy driftwood catfish is a small, peaceful catfish that is happiest in a group. It is a fish for experienced keepers.

Did you know

The pygmy driftwood catfish was described by science only in the 1970s. In the wild it is known from a single river system, the Nanay, in the Peruvian Amazon.

Caring for the pygmy driftwood catfish

Keep several pygmy driftwood catfish together in a quiet, well-planted tank of at least 21 gal (80 L). Give them driftwood, leaf litter and dense planting for cover, over a soft substrate. Dim the light with floating plants and keep the flow gentle.

Keep the water soft, at 72 to 77°F (22 to 25°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. A mature, clean tank with low nitrate suits this secretive little catfish. It hides among wood and plants by day and forages after dark. Offer live and frozen foods such as bloodworms, plus small sinking pellets, once the lights are off.

The pygmy driftwood catfish is gentle with tank mates and safe with all but the tiniest fry, so it fits a small community aquarium. The male fertilizes the female internally with a modified anal fin, and she can store the sperm and spawn later. Breeding in home aquariums is not documented.

Good to know

The pygmy driftwood catfish is a dwarf member of Auchenipteridae, the driftwood catfishes, and is also sold as the Peruvian wood cat. It carries the family's plated head and locking fin spines despite its small size.

In the wild

The pygmy driftwood catfish's home river is a soft, acidic blackwater system, stained with tannins and shaded by forest.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The pygmy driftwood 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 pygmy driftwood catfish need?

A pygmy driftwood catfish needs at least 21 gal (80 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a pygmy driftwood catfish need?

A pygmy driftwood catfish is comfortable at 72–77°F (22–25°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a pygmy driftwood catfish eat?

A pygmy driftwood catfish eats live and frozen foods such as bloodworms, plus small sinking pellets. Feed it once the lights are off.

How big does a pygmy driftwood catfish get?

An adult pygmy driftwood catfish reaches about 3.1 in (8 cm).

How does a pygmy driftwood catfish breed?

A pygmy driftwood catfish breeds by internal fertilization, and the female can store the sperm and spawn later. Breeding in home aquariums is not documented.

Related species