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.
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| 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 |
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| 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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