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No federal permit to keep

Porthole catfish

Dianema longibarbis

Fishes › Catfish (Siluriformes) › Callichthyidae (Corydoras and armored catfish)

Aquarium hobby

Experience: Beginner

Porthole catfish — Photo: Ckf6412, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Photo: Ckf6412, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

FamilyCorydoras and armored catfish

Adult lengthup to 3.9 in

WaterFreshwater

HabitatLives in freshwater. Stays near the bottom

Care at a glance

Species-specific aquarium care

Tank: At least 24 in long and 12 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 3.9 in / 9.8 cm).
Water: Freshwater.
Temperature: 72–79°F (range recorded for this species).
pH: 5.5–7.5.
Hardness: 2–20 dGH.
Layout: Lives on or near the bottom: floor space and hiding places matter more than height.

Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.

Care guide

Species care notes

Tank: a base of at least 35 × 15 in (roughly 27 US gallons); space needed is rated “large tank”.
Water: a fairly wide range, from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, 75–82 °F, pH 5.5–7.5, 1–20 dGH.
Behaviour: temperament peaceful; a shoaling fish best kept in a group of six or more.
Difficulty: Moderate (Seriously Fish rating).

Short excerpts from the species profile:

Setup: “A biotope tank would consist of a sandy substrate with tangles of driftwood and roots.”
Tankmates: “A very peaceful fish that is suitable for many communities.”
Breeding: “Very scant information exists regarding the spawning of this fish in captivity.”

From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167

Group care guide

Corydoras and armored catfish

Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Shallow South American streams. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.

Housing & setup

Soft sand substrate, groups of six or more, and clean water.

Sources 117 119 164 118

Diet

Sinking pellets, wafers and frozen bloodworms.

Sources 117 119 164 118

Social life

Keep in groups.

Sources 117 119 164 118

Health watch

Barbel erosion on dirty or rough substrate.

Sources 117 119 164 118

Understanding the animal

About this animal

This species is found in South America where it is found in the Amazon River basin of Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia and Peru. The fish will grow in length up to 8.2 centimetres (3.2 in).

Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Porthole catfish” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174

In the wild

From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.¹

Where it lives	Lives in freshwater. Stays near the bottom.
Water it lives in	Freshwater, 72–79 °F (22–26 °C), pH 5.5–7.5, hardness 2–20 dH.
Climate	Tropical climate.
Behavior to plan for	Breeding: nesters.

What this means for care

Keep water within its wild range, 72–79 °F.

FishBase species summary: Dianema longibarbis

Native climate (measured)

Warm-season highs	about 90°F (up to 92°F in the hottest sampled areas)
Cool-season lows	about 69°F (down to 64°F in the coldest sampled areas)
Average temperature	78–80°F across sampled records
Relative humidity	81–84% on average (driest month about 79%)
Rainfall	about 2319 mm a year, spread fairly evenly

Measured at 65 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.

From the sources

Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.

Overview

The porthole catfish (Dianema longibarbis), or slender catfish, is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Callichthyidae and the subfamily Callichthyinae, the armored catfishes. This species is found in South America where it is found in the Amazon River basin of Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia and Peru. The fish will grow in length up to 8.2 cm. It natively inhabits waters with a pH range of 5.5 to 7.5, a hardness of 2–20 DH, and a temperature of 22–26 C. — Wikipedia (community-edited)

Where it lives

Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase

Data and studies

The numbers

Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.

Typical adult weight

Reported25.8g

FishBase 16425.8

Average adult body mass in each database (FishBase gives the maximum recorded weight).

Adult length

Average of sources3.9in

FishBase 1643.9

Seriously Fish species profiles 1673.9

Maximum recorded length. Measured as standard length (snout to the base of the tail, not counting the tail fin). Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.

Water temperature

Average of sources73.5–80.5°F

FishBase 16472–79

Seriously Fish species profiles 16775–82

Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.

pH

Average of sources5.5–7.5

FishBase 1645.5–7.5

Seriously Fish species profiles 1675.5–7.5

Water hardness

Average of sources1.5–20dGH

FishBase 1642–20

Seriously Fish species profiles 1671–20

Minimum tank footprint

Reported35in

Seriously Fish species profiles 16735

Seriously Fish recommends a tank base of at least 35 × 15 in (about 27 US gallons).

Federal legal snapshot

No federal permit to keep

No federal law singles out this species for private keepers. State and local rules still apply.

State law decides most of it. Each state sets its own permits and bans for exotic, native, venomous and dangerous animals, and cities and counties can be stricter. Find your state agency →

Not covered by the Animal Welfare Act

The Act only covers warm-blooded animals. Reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates have no federal care standards, even at licensed facilities; state and local rules may still apply.

Kept in captivity?

Every species on this site needs evidence that people actually keep it. For this one:

Has a Seriously Fish aquarium species profile
FishBase records it in the aquarium trade (Aquarium=commercial; AquariumFishII=based mainly on breeding)
3 iNaturalist observations of captive animals

Sources for this sheet

FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of aquarium fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
Merck Veterinary Manual: Types and features of aquatic systems Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
Merck Veterinary Manual: Nutritional diseases of fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
iNaturalist (captive observations) Community referenceCommunity observation platform run by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic; observations marked captive show animals living in homes, zoos and aquariums.