Brochis multiradiatus
(Orcés-Villagomez, 1960)
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We again welcome
back to ScotCat, author and catfish expert Chris Ralph and a look
at one of his favourite members of the Callichthyidae family,
the Hog-nosed Brochis, Brochis multiradiatus for the
month of March 2007.
rochis multiradiatus
is one of the largest of the Brochis group of catfish
and is very popular amongst a number of catfish enthusiasts myself
included. Unfortunately Brochis multiradiatus is not
commonly available to the hobbyist. When this truly majestic catfish
is available expect to pay £15-£25 for an adult fish.
When observing these catfish the aquarist is taken in by the ability
of this catfish to almost “wink” at you (Brochis
multiradiatus along with its close cousins the “Cory’s”
can roll their eyes).
Brochis multiradiatus
belongs to the family Callichthyidae from Ecuador; namely the
eastern tributary of the Rio Lagartococha near the town of Garza-
Cocha, in the Upper Napo river system; Peru; namely the Amazon
basin Rio Samiria drainage: Quebrada Santa and Rio Yavari drainage:
Benjamin Constant. Brochis multiradiatus is also documented
as being found in South America namely the western Amazon River
basin (which covers Ecuador and Peru) and Bolivia.
The image below shows the longer head and barbel arrangement
of Brochis multiradiatus
Brochis multiradiatus
prefer to be kept in water which has a pH in the range of 6.0-7.2,
and hardness in the range up to 15.0 dGH. This catfish is ideally
suited to temperatures in the range of 21-24ºC.
I would suggest a tank of the minimum size of 30”
x 15” X 12” for a shoal of these fascinating catfish.
The preferred substrate for keeping these catfish should be
good quality aquarium sand such as BD Aquarium Sand, or very
smooth rounded gravel in order to prevent their barbels from
being damaged. The aquarium should provide some shelter in the
form of rocks, bogwood and aquatic plants. As with all other
species of fish, water quality and general husbandry is very
important, and I would recommend that a minimum of 25% water
is changed on a fortnightly basis.
The body shape of Brochis multiradiatus
is triangular which is typical of most of the “Corydoras spp”
within the family Callichthyidae. The body of this fish is deep,
with adults having a noticeably longer snout. The dorsal fin has
15-18 soft rays; although Brochis multiradiatus usually
has17 soft rays.
The base colour of the body and head varies
from a dull brownish/grey to bluish or greenish metallic coloured.
The lower half of the ventrolateral body scutes can be light yellow
to light pink in colour. A good specimen will have a true emerald
green colouration to the flanks and dorsal area, with a pinkish
tinge to the ventral region. There can be a presence of colour in
the fins of juveniles, but this disappears as the fish matures leaving
perfectly clear fins in an adult. The pectoral fin spines are coloured.
Wherever possible I would recommend that
the aquarist keep these catfish in groups of six, but as the absolute
minimum I would suggest three specimens. In their natural habitat
Brochis multiradiatus would be found in very large shoals.
Brochis multiradiatus are quite at home with other members
of the family Callichthyidae. These catfish are ideally suited
to being kept in a community aquarium environment with other species
of fish such as Cardinal tetras, other small catfish such as Corydoras
and Dwarf cichlids such as any of the Apistogramma spp.
As far as I am aware there are no documented
records of Brochis multiradiatus having been spawned in
aquaria to date.
| Sexual
differences |
The males tend to be more
slender than the females. The dorsal and pectoral fins of
the males tend to be more pointed than those of the females.
|
| Feeding |
As with all the other Brochis that
I have had the pleasure to keep over the years, Brochis multiradiatus
readily accepts a mixed and varied diet. I personally feed all of
my Brochis on sinking catfish pellets, good quality flake
foods, granular foods, cultured whiteworm and frozen foods such
as bloodworm to name but a few.
| Glossary
of Terms |
Ventrolateral
is defined as extending from below and to the side.
Ventral is defined as bottom, below or underneath.
Scute is defined as a bony plate.
Dorsal is defined as top or above.
|
| Etymology |
Multiradiatus
= Many (fin) ray
|
| References |
Chris Ralph
01/06/05 Published in August 2005 edition of Tropical Fish
Magazine.
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| Photo
Credits |
By
author |
|
|
| Synonyms:
|
| Chaenothorax multiradiatus |
| Common
Name: |
| Hog-nosed Brochis or Long-finned
Brochis |
| Family: |
| Callichthyidae |
| Subfamily: |
| Callichthyinae |
| Distribution: |
| South
America: Ecuador,
Western affluent of the Rio Lagartococha, upper Napo system. |
| Size: |
| 90mm s.l. (standard length
– this is the measurement of the fish from the tip of
the snout to the base of the caudal peduncle). |
| Temp: |
| 21-24°C (69-75°F)
|
| pH.: |
| 6.0 -7.2. |
| Donation: |
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