Scientific Name:
Microglanis iheringi (Gomes, 1946)
Range:
South America: Rio Turmero, Rio Merecure, Rio Tuy, Rio Merecure, Venezuela.
Maximum size:
No more than 5,5cm. (2.2")
Aquarium:
A tank with dimmed lights and a good amount of hiding places (plants, drift wood, rocks, artificial caves) is ideal for this catfish. Given its small size, even as adults, tanks as small as 24x12x12" (60x30x30cm.) are sufficient for a small group of these fish.
Like most South American catfish, this species does best in soft, slightly acidic to neutral water, good oxygenation and a moderate amount of currents.
Temperature:
pH:
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Diet:
The South American Bumblebee Catfish is not a picky eater: this omnivore will accept anything from pellets, tubifex, blood worms and mosquito larvae to krill and small pieces of shrimp, mussel and fish meat.
Temperament:
This species is peaceful, although it will try to 'taste' anything that fits its mouth, so it should not be kept together with fry, very small fish or shrimp.
The South American Bumblebee Catfish is predominantly nocturnal: during daytime, this fish will hardly ever show itself. To suit this secretive lifestyle, the tank needs to be densely decorated: plants, drift wood, rocks: it doesn't really matter what is used as decor, as long as hiding places are provided, this small fish will thrive. Well-acclimatized specimen will occasionally sprint towards food during feeding time, to rush back into hiding with equal speed. In short these fish are not the most social of all fish, but the easy care, undemanding nature and problemfree feeding habits make this fish an ideal cleaner catfish for just about any aquarium.
