Falcate Chameleon Catfish

About

The Falcate Chameleon Catfish (Acrochordonichthys gyrinus) is a small akysid catfish known only from the Yom River at Phitsanulok in Thailand's upper Chao Phraya basin, where it inhabits main river channels and picks off crustaceans and other bottom-dwelling invertebrates. One of the most immediately interesting things about this species, and its genus as a whole, is that individuals periodically shed their skin, causing their coloration to shift and appear noticeably paler afterward. Body patterning is variable even within a single population, which can make identification tricky. Physically, A. gyrinus is distinguished within its species group by a concave posterior margin on the pectoral fins, a relatively slim build, and a flatter head profile compared to close relatives. The care level is listed as beginner, but there are real caveats to community keeping. When stressed, individuals can release a milky secretion from a pore near the pectoral fin base that is capable of killing tankmates in an enclosed space, so this species genuinely needs to be kept with careful attention to compatibility. Smaller fish will be treated as food, so suitable companions are non-aggressive mid-water species large enough not to be swallowed. Groups of this catfish can be kept together, since adults tolerate conspecifics they cannot eat. No captive breeding has been recorded.