Thorny Catfish

About

Found in the upper Amazon River basin of South America, Anadoras grypus is a small doradid catfish that most hobbyists outside specialist circles have yet to discover. Like other members of the thorny catfish family, it carries a row of lateral scutes along each flank. Bony, spine-bearing plates that give it a distinctive armored appearance and make it noticeably tougher to the touch than most catfish you'd handle. It stays on the smaller side for a doradid, which makes it workable in modest-sized tanks. In the aquarium, these fish spend much of their time in classic doradid fashion: wedged under driftwood, tucked into caves, or generally making themselves invisible during daylight hours. Come evening they become noticeably more active, picking through the substrate and grazing on whatever organic material they find. They're not aggressive toward tankmates, but they're sturdy enough that most fish leave them alone. A mixed diet of sinking pellets, frozen bloodworms, and occasional vegetable matter suits them well. This isn't a species for complete beginners, they benefit from a keeper who understands the importance of water quality and proper hiding spots, but they're a genuinely rewarding and underappreciated addition to a South American biotope setup.