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Astroblepids are closely related to the Loricariids, and in fact one genus of fish (Lithogenes Eigenman, 1909) seems intermediate between the two families, having the shape and form of an Astroblepid, but some plates on the body and other morphological characters closer to Loricariids. At the time of writing, Lithogenes is currently placed in Loricariidae. Habitat: This species occurs in the Mira and Esmeraldas River basin and other Pacific coastal drainages in Ecuador and in the Magdalena River Basin of Colombia (Cundinamarca, Santander and Risaralda departments, Maldonado-Ocampo et al. 2005). This species occurs between 500 to 2,800 m asl (IUCN 2016). Reproduction: It reproduces in lotic waters between the months of December and May, with a peak during the beginning of the rainy season, in April (Roman-Valencia 2001). Aquarium Care: Not an easy family of catfishes to keep so they would have to have a large tank with rocks and some appropriate vegetation. The water would need to be fast flowing and provided with extra oxygen via an air tube fed into the powerhead flow. The tank should be set up with rocks so as to provide an area where the water current will be slower. Diet: It feeds primarily on insects, but can also eat phytoplancton, detritus and seeds. In the aquarium invertebrates, insect larvae, spirulina tablets or paste, algae based foods and live bloodworm would probably be the staple diet but you may wish to try glassworm and blackworm (although these won’t tend to stay on the substrate unless the current takes them there). Etymology: The specific name cyclopus: latinisation of Cyclops, mythological one-eyed giants that lived inside the volcano of Mt. Aetna (or Etna) of Sicily, alluding to local reports that the Andean volcanoes of Ecuador regularly eject a muddy substance mixed with fresh water and large numbers of this catfish, which presumably live in subterranean lakes beneath the volcano; Humboldt believed these claims but they have never been authenticated.

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Pimelodus cyclopum

Astroblepidae

South America: Esmeraldas River and other Pacific coastal drainages of Ecuador; Andean streams of Colombia. Type Locality: Subterranean waters in Andes of Quito (basin of Río Esmeraldas), Ecuador.

5.0cm. (2ins)

15-20°c (57-67°f.)