False Jaguar Cat

About

Found in the Ucayali River basin of Peru, this obscure South American catfish, Liosomadoras morrowi, is sometimes called the false jaguar cat due to its resemblance to its more visually impressive relative, L. oncinus. Though its patterning tends to be duller and less defined, which is one of the easiest ways to tell the two apart. During daylight hours it behaves like a classic shy bottom dweller, tucking itself away among driftwood and cover, but after lights-out its temperament shifts noticeably. Small fish sharing the tank are at real risk of becoming a meal overnight, so tankmate selection deserves careful thought. Mid-sized characins, robust cichlids, and similarly scaled catfish like corydoras or loricariids are generally reasonable companions, provided none are small enough to be considered prey. Keeping multiple individuals is possible in a roomy setup with plenty of hiding spots, though some territorial friction between specimens should be expected. Breeding has not been documented in home aquaria, though internal fertilization is known to occur in the wild. With a potential lifespan stretching into the teens, this is a long-term commitment for an intermediate keeper willing to plan around its after-dark behavior.