Driftwood Catfish

About

Driftwood catfish (Trachelyichthys decaradiatus) is an uncommon visitor to the hobby, hailing from the Rupununi River basin in Guyana. A detail worth noting if you enjoy putting together geographically accurate biotope tanks. It's a small, bottom-dwelling catfish that stays peaceful with virtually any tankmate large enough not to be considered a snack, making it a solid fit for community aquaria as long as you're not raising fry in the same space. It does best when kept in a group rather than singly, and pairs especially well with tetras, dwarf cichlids, Corydoras, and smaller Loricariids in a South American setup. If you want to tell this species apart from its close relative T. exilis, look at the eye position. On T. decaradiatus the eye sits noticeably further back on the head. And the humeral process, the spine projecting from behind the gill plate, which is broader and shorter here than on exilis. Neither species turns up in fish stores with any regularity, so finding one is a bit of a score. Breeding has not been documented in captivity. With a lifespan that can stretch close to a decade, this is a small but rewarding catfish for the patient, intermediate-level keeper who appreciates the less-celebrated corners of the hobby.