Suckermouth Catfishes

About

Suckermouth catfishes (Hypostomus sp.) belong to one of the most species-rich catfish genera in the Americas, and pinning down exactly which Hypostomus you're dealing with is genuinely tricky. The group contains well over 100 described species and new ones keep turning up. This particular undescribed or unconfirmed form originates from Parque Nacional Natural Serranía de Chiribiquete in Colombia, a dramatically isolated tepui landscape that has produced a number of animals found nowhere else on Earth. In the aquarium, Hypostomus species are recognizable by their flattened, heavily armored bodies, underslung sucker mouths, and the rows of bony scutes that run along their flanks. Coloration varies widely across the genus but often runs to browns, grays, and spotted or mottled patterns that blend into rocky riverbeds. Most species are largely nocturnal, spending daylight hours wedged against driftwood or rock surfaces. They are generally peaceful toward other fish, though adults can become territorial with their own kind. As algae grazers and scavengers, they are considered manageable for beginner keepers, though some members of the genus grow quite large, so it pays to research the specific form you're acquiring before committing to a tank size.