Porthole Catfish

About

The porthole catfish (Dianema longibarbis) takes its name from the row of dark spots running along the lateral line, giving it an almost industrial, riveted appearance. Native to the Amazon River basin in South America, it inhabits slow-moving and still waters where it supplements gill breathing by gulping air at the surface. An obligate behavior you'll notice regularly in a home aquarium. This is a peaceful, unassuming fish that gets along with virtually everything of a reasonable size, though tiny fry are not safe around it. It pairs naturally with tetras, Corydoras, peaceful cichlids, and smaller loricariids. One quirk that surprises many keepers: unlike most catfish that hug the bottom, a group of porthole cats will regularly shoal together in midwater, which is a genuinely charming sight. A single specimen tends to be shy and reclusive, so a group of at least three to six is strongly recommended to see the fish at its best. Newly imported fish can be a bit delicate and prone to disease, since all available specimens are wild-caught, so a careful, gradual acclimation period is important. Once settled, however, these fish prove quite resilient and can live well beyond what you'd expect for their size. A good choice for the intermediate keeper with an Amazonian-themed community setup.