Tatia aulopygia
(Kner, 1858) |
he genus Tatia contains around about 14 species distributed
throughout South America east of the Andes from Venezuela and Colombia
to Southern Brazil. They don't grow big and the largest size recorded
is 12cm. ( 5ins).
Tatia tend to be kept by catfish fanatics
(for the want of a better word!) as you will not see them from
one week to another as they are nocturnal (active at night) and
you have to feed at lights out or as I do, put food into the pipe
or crevice that you will find them jammed into.
Tatia aulopygia is quite a pretty catfish as most of this
genus are. The eyes are large with a skin over them and a few
non catfish aquarists tend to think that they have cloudy eye's
and it is a disease, but this is normal for the Auchenipteridae
family.
The barbels are moderate in length reaching to the end of the dorsal
fin and they tend to bend them upwards when looking for food. They
can also tuck their barbels alongside their cheeks making them nearly
invisible.
I tend to think that there is a groove in this area where they can
lay their barbels in. They possess two pairs of barbels, one pair
of mandibular and one pair of maxillary.
They have quite a chunky body with a broad based caudal peduncle
(between the dorsal and caudal) which is unusual in itself as in
most fish it slopes down to the caudal fin. Tatia possess
a very small adipose fin and a moderately sized ventral and anal.
The anal fin is the key to the sexual dimorphism of this genus,
if you think of the male and female of most livebearer fish (Goodeidae
family) and you wil not be too far away with this assumption. As
you can see above the female has a normal anal fin but the males
are modified into a copulatory organ with the first and second ray
thickened and longer, it is thought that the male uses this to clasp
the female during the spawning embrace.
D 1/4-5; A 8-10; P 1/4; V 6. Body stocky,
varying little in depth from front to back, the hinder part compressed.
Dorsal fin inserted far forwards, short, with a stout spine. Adipose
fin small. Caudal fin forked. Anal fin-base short. 1 pair of maxillary
barbels, reaching to the pectoral fins when laid back; two pairs
of short, very fine, mandibular barbels.
Body dark brown to black with pale blotches. Middle of the underside
delicate pale brown to white. The dorsal, adipose and caudal fins
display the same colouration and markings as the body. The remaining
fins are translucent, pale or light brownish.
Give them small pipes, and they do seem to like to hide in the crevices
of bogwood as well. They appear to be happier if they can jam themselves
in with the use of their pectoral fins. Community tanks are fine
for this species although you may find that they will predate on
fry from other species, but apart from that they come well recommended
but don't expect to see them too often.
Internal fertilisation with the eggs deposited 24-48 hours later.
Also a report on Tatia creutzbergi, with them placing their
adhesive eggs on the underside of wood with no broodcare after the
event. 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 its native habitat they feed on small invertebrates and crustaceans
and in the aquarium they will eat anything given such as frozen
bloodworm inserted in to their hideaway, catfish tablets, white
worm (sparingly) and prawns and shrimp.
They do like their food and you can see them shooting out of their
hideouts and swimming in a frenzied manner to try and take all for
themselves, especially when you feed them their favourite food,
frozen bloodworm.
| Etymology |
Tatia:
In honour of Mr. C. Tate Regan.
|
| References |
Burgess,Warren.E.Dr. Freshwater and Marine Catfishes
Riehl, Baensch. Aquarium Atlas 3.1997.
Catfish Association
Great Britain. Volume1
Sterba, Gunther; Freshwater
Fishes of the World 1
 |
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| Synonyms:
|
| None |
| Common
Name: |
| Snowflake Woodcat |
| Family: |
| Auchenipteridae |
| Subfamily: |
| Centromochlinae |
| Distribution: |
Brazil,
Rio Guaporé
Surinam |
| Size: |
| 10cm (4ins) |
| Temp: |
| 21-24c (69-75f ) |
| pH.: |
| 6.5 - 7.5. |
| Donation: |
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