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Allan James (3)

Fishes of the family Astroblepidae (and its one valid genus Astroblepus Humboldt, 1805) are found in freshwaters streams (between 200 to 13,400 feet above sea level) of the tropical Andes from Panama to Bolivia, and occur in both the western Pacific and eastern Amazonian slope drainage systems in South and Central America. 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. 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: 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). Remarks: These images were taken by the image contributor in the field at an altitude of 1471m and a water temperature of 15.6C (60.1F). We found Astroblepus in the Madre De Dios region between 443m (1453ft) to 1471m (4826ft) high but never below 443m. This species may be A. mancoi or a very close relative.

Tiger stargazer catfish

None

Astroblepidae

South America: Upper Ucayali River basin and the Madre De Dios region Peru. Type locality: le haut, Peru.

8.0cm (3¼ins)

15-20°c (57-67°f.)