How To Breed Catfishes – Keep your dogs away!

Unlike our feline friends, these catfishes love water. Like our feline cat friends, catfish like to be clean! Every tank needs a Catfish, they are the housekeepers of the fish world. Catfish help keep the tank clean by eating algae and, as they are bottom feeders, will also eat any leftover food created by the other fish.

Catfish are fantastic fish to keep if you notice a buildup of leftover food and algae in your tank, it’s a great idea to get one… Or two if your tank is big enough. There are several breeds of Catfish that you may consider for your tank and all of them can be reproduced and bred considering that the environment is suitable.

With all Catfish, it’s best to breed long-term, limiting the other fish as in a community of species, eggs or fry will get eaten by the other fish. All aquariums should include a sponge filter to help maintain the water quality and the current of the water shouldn’t be too strong as fry can get sucked up. Plant growth is also important to make sure there is sufficient lighting similar to daylight conditions. For all the species of catfish, conditions will vary a little. But water temperature should be between 25–28°C (77–82°F).

Breeding Bristlenose Catfish (Ancistrus dolichopterus)

Bristlenose catfish love plants in the tank with a good growth of algae. To produce the algae needed place the aquarium in full sunlight for part of the day. Adult catfish love a mixture of live, frozen and dry foods as well as vegetable matter.

When the adults are well-fed pairs will start to breed. The breeding season is in the winter time, try to only have one male in the tank as during this time of year the males can become quite territorial. When the female Catfish is ready to spawn her eggs in the male’s nest site, she will lay between 30–50+ eggs and 5 days later will start to hatch. The Male Bristlenost Catfish will do what he can to protect his fry in the nest. A further 5 days after the hatching, the youngsters will start to explore. Many of these young explorers will get eaten if bred in a community tank, so be wary and include places where the fry can hide.

Aquarium Setup for breeding Bristlenose Catfish

Plants: Cryptocoryne, Cabomba, Vallisneria
organisms: Algae
Water condition: 24–27°C (75–80°F), maximum 150 ppm, pH 7

Extra: Bogwood with holes, clay pots

Bristlenose Catfish Fact:

Males tend to be bigger than the females

Breeding Peppered Catfish (Corydoras paleatus)

The Peppered catfish is one the easiest breeds of catfish to breed because they regularly breed in community aquariums. The male chooses the female fish by rubbing his barbels across the females back. Once aroused, she will return the favour, and then release sperm into her mouth and out of the anus to produce a newly batch of eggs. 4–6 eggs are fertilised this way. To increase success of fry, add a broadleaved plant into the aquarium as the surface is ideal for spawning. In four days the fry hatch, and after a further 3 days the newborns are ready to feed.

Aquarium Setup for Breeding Peppered Catfish

Plants: Amazon Swords, Cryptocoryne
Water condition: 24°C (75°F)
Extra: Gravel or sand substrate

Peppered Catfish Fact

Newborns look like tadpoles.

Breeding Hoplo Catfish (Megalechis thoracata)

This species of catfish can spawn in a broad range of conditions. The males build a large nest under a leaf and then once the females are aroused they will move towards the nest and and circle each other upside down. Eggs are then deposited into the nest and the female is chased away. When you notice the female being chased by the male, move her to an alternative tank, as the male gets protective over the eggs. When the eggs hatch after 3 days, remove the male to allow the fry to explore on their own.

Aquarium Setup For breeding Hoplo Catfish

Plants: Floating leaves such as water lillies

organisms: Algae
Water condition: 24°C (75°F), 75-100 ppm, pH 6.5
Extra: Bogwood with holes, clay pots

Hoplo Catfish Facts

The females are fatter than the males.

Breeding Upside-Down Catfish (Synodontic nigriventris)

These catfish love plants and plenty of live food. They are seasonal spawners so it could take many months before you see any fry or eggs. They love caves so make sure you include some in the aquarium. Both the males and females protect the nest and newly hatched fry. After four days of hatching the youngsters start swimming on their own, after 2 months they will start to swim upside down.

Aquarium Setup for breeding Upside-Down Catfish

Plants: Small Cryptocoryne, Ludwigia, Vallisneria

organisms: Algae
Water condition: 26°C (79°F), pH 6.5
Extra: Sandy floor, Bogwood

Upside-Down Catfish Facts

These fish can be challenging to spawn.

Final Tips

Clay pots make ideal artificial caves for spawning catfish.
Bogwood is great to make Catfish feel at home.