Breeding Barbatus

[Fishnut2]

Around 2004, the genus for the species Barbatus, was changed from Corydora to Scleromystax. The collection areas for Barbatus are the eastern coastal drainages of Brazil, between Rio de Janeiro, and Sao Paulo. Mostly from rivers emptying into Guanabara Bay. Rio Guapi...Rio Capivari...and Rio Inbomirim. I am assuming that these are fast flowing rivers...with cooler water...and a high dissolved oxygen level.

The Barbatus are one of the best looking South American catfish, in my opinion. Probably the most important thing to know, is to keep them in cooler water. Mine are kept at room temperature, which is about 72F water temp. Warmer temps lower the DO (dissolved oxygen) level, and seem to affect the adults a lot quicker then juveniles.

Conditioning is a major factor for breeding Barbatus. They will accept a wide variety of foods such as frozen blood worms/frozen brine/most pellet food/flake/beefheart/or chopped up nightcrawlers. My favorite conditioning food is (and always will be) live black worms. A well conditioned Barbatus will get fat on the underbellie...as opposed to getting wider in the stomach area.


I breed mine in a 20H, with a bare bottom, a powerhead for higher DO levels, and my home-made filter. My current colony is a male and 3 females, but I've had colonies of 8 fish in a 20H before. Once the fish are conditioned, I do a 50% water change, with water that 8-10 degrees cooler...as a trigger. Spawning typically occurs within the next 24 hours.

After a bit of courting, the pair will begin mating in the common "T" position. The female will carry the eggs in a pouch formed by her anal fins...before placing them on the glass (in most cases).


Barbatus like to cluster spawn...laying eggs on top of each other. Sometimes this can be 3-4 layers thick. They will also lay eggs in single layer, almost always with 6" of the waterline.


My Barbatus are spawning in regular Chicago tap water, which is about 7.6 PH, and 220 TDS. Temp climbs back to 72 after the 62 to 64 temp drop for the trigger. Let the eggs harden for 3 to 4 hours before harvesting them...as the egg membrane needs to harden up. You'll loose eggs if you harvest too soon, as the eggs are like mush. A lower PH and TDS will improve your hatch rate, as it helps dissolve the egg membrane during hatching. Barbatus typically won't eat the eggs during the 1st 24 hours. Longer then that...they will!

Please take the time to enjoy my video clip. It shows everything you need to know, about spawning Barbatus! Two colonies of Barbatus, are spawning at the same time...in adjacent tanks. Watch carefully, as the clip shows Barbatus conditioning on Black worms/ the male courting/ the "T" position/ female carrying eggs in her pouch/ and placement of the eggs on the glass. The hoe-down music should get a chuckle out of most people. I like how the male seems to dance (in sync) while he's courting the female.
Best of luck breeding Barbatus!!! It's truely worth the time and effort.
http://fishnut2.com/BarbatusSpawns.mpg