Wood Catfish

About

Found threading through leaf litter and submerged wood in the Upper Xingu and Tocantins River basins of Brazil, Centromochlus schultzi is a small driftwood catfish in the family Auchenipteridae. It reaches somewhere between two and a half and four inches as an adult, making it a compact species well suited to a dedicated catfish setup or a carefully chosen community. Like others in its group, it tends to be nocturnal or crepuscular, spending daylight hours tucked under wood, behind rocks, or nestled among leaf litter. So replicating that kind of cluttered, shaded environment is key to keeping it comfortable. Offer plenty of hiding spots and dim conditions, and you will start to see more of it as it grows confident. Being an omnivore, it accepts a range of foods without much fuss, including sinking pellets, frozen bloodworm, and other small meaty items. The intermediate care rating reflects its need for stable, clean water and a thoughtfully arranged tank rather than any particular sensitivity. It is not a fish you will watch cruising in open water all day, but for a keeper who appreciates subtle, interesting behavior and enjoys setting up a naturalistic South American biotope, this little catfish is genuinely rewarding.