Trachelyichthys exilis
Greenfield & Glodek, 1977 |
his month we are concentrating
on a small member of the Auchenipteridae family, the "Driftwood
Cats", and also the small genus Trachelyichthys which
comprises of only two individuals, this months choice and also T.
decaradiatus. To put you in the picture, the genus Trachelyichthys
was created in 1974 by Dr.Mees and in his paper there was only
a single specie, Trachelyichthys decaradiatus from the Rupununi
River, British Guiana and so T.exilis didn't come along until
1977 where it was described from the Rio Mamon, Peru which is basically
on the other side of the South American continent approximately
1,800km away from the first genus discovered. The specimen was caught
in a shallow part of the river approximately one metre (39")
deep. The substrate consisted of mud and sand. The water was acidic
and the surface temperature, 28°c (82°f)
To differentiate between T.exilis and
T.decaradiates is sometimes not that easy as they both have
the same basic body colouration but the main difference lies in
the shape of the humeral process and the positioning of the eyes.
Below you can what I mean from the published papers of Greenfield
& Glodek, 1977.
In the picture below you can see the positioning
of the eye in a real life scenario.
Telling the boys from the girls
is not too hard in mature specimens as the male shows
an extension to the front of its anal fin as is the norm in this
family and the female has a normal fin. Below you can see the difference
in sexing the genus Tatia which is in the same family. The
only difference is the length of the anal fin in T.exils
and T.decaradiatus but it does give you an idea and should
help you sex out this species if buying from an aquatic outlet.
So basically a good catfish all round
if a little secretive, they don't particular like to be on their
own so have at least a pair or better still a small group of them,
and you may have a little luck and spawn them.
Small based dorsal.
Large eyes well forward on head. Long pointed humeral process.
Colouration silver tone with black band running
over top of body interupted with some spots. Lateral line with large
black spots, rest of body with varius spotted pattern. Dorsal spine
with black stripe with rest of fins spotted.
Keeping both species is not too much of a
problem as long as the water is kept clean and not too alkaline
with a p.H.of between 6.5 and 7.0. They do like a planted aquarium
where they like to hide during the day. They also make a good show
fish if showing your fish at shows is your forte, as they usually
deport well in a show tank.
This is a piece taken from the Baench Aquarium
Atlas 3 on the breeding of this species: "Well-fed fishes have
been known to spawn in aquaria. The male embraces the female so
that his genital papilla is very close to the anus of the female.
Eggs are fertilised before they are laid among plants; Java moss
makes an appropriate spawning substrate" A few members of the
Auchenipteridae family have been spawned in the hobby with
a successful breeding and raising of the young of Trachelyichthys
decaradiatus by Dick Thompson, a former member of The Northern
Area Catfish Group (now Catfish
Study Group U.K.)
In the aquarium a good mixture of dry food
such as flake and tablet. Worm food such as bloodworm, whiteworm
and grindal will keep the 'pygmy driftwood' happy in its suroundings.
| Etymology |
Trachelyichthys:
From the Greek, trachelos, meaning neck, pteron, meaning fin
and ichthys, meaning fish;
exilis : Slim or slender, pertaining
to the slim humeral process.
|
| References |
Baensch, H.A. and R. Riehl 1991
Aquarien atlas. Bd. 3. Melle: Mergus, Verlag für Natur- und
Heimtierkunde, Germany. 1104 p.
Sandford, Mike; CAGB Magazine 41 1984 : Trachelyichthys -
two of a kind
Greenfield, D.W. & Glodek, G.S. 1977: Trachelyichthys
exilis, a new Species of Catfish from Peru.
Top picture: Pertti
Rassi
Middle Drawing: Greenfield, D.W. & Glodek, G.S. 1977: Trachelyichthys
exilis, a new Species of Catfish from Peru.
Bottom Picture: Julian Dignall
@ 
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| Synonyms:
|
| None |
| Common
Name: |
| Pigmy Driftwood |
| Family: |
| Auchenipteridae |
| Subfamily: |
| Auchenipterinae |
| Distribution: |
Peru:
Nanay River basin
in upper Amazon River drainage. Type locality:
Río Mamón, a tributary of Río Nanay, approximately
25 km west of Iquitos, 3º42'S, 73º16'W, Peru. |
| Size: |
| 9.5cm (3¾ins) |
| Temp: |
| 22-25c (71-77f ) |
| pH.: |
| 6.5 - 7.0. |
| Donation: |
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