Britski's Catfish

About

Sometimes called Britski's catfish, this species (Brochis britskii) hails from the upper Paraguay River basin in South America and belongs to the armored catfish group. A family characterized by rows of bony plates covering the body in place of conventional scales. If you've kept corydoras before, this fish will feel familiar, but it's noticeably deeper-bodied and carries a taller dorsal fin than most of its relatives. That dorsal fin is actually the easiest way to identify it: Britski's catfish typically shows 15 dorsal-fin rays, a count that separates it neatly from closely related species in what was formerly the genus Brochis. The taxonomy here is genuinely messy. The fish has bounced between Brochis and Corydoras over the years, and the debate isn't fully settled. In the aquarium it's a peaceable, sociable species that really should be kept in a group of six or more. Solo individuals tend to be shy and stressed. Like its relatives, it's a facultative air breather, meaning it can supplement gill respiration by gulping air at the surface. You'll see this behavior occasionally even in a well-oxygenated tank. One handling note worth passing along: the pectoral-fin spines are sharp enough to pierce skin, and the associated glands may produce a mildly venomous secretion, so use a container rather than your bare hand when moving them. Breeding has not been documented in captivity.