Care
Like most of the family, this woodcat can usually be found in habitats that offer daytime shelter in the form of tangled piles of waterlogged submerged wood. Wild fishes leave their daytime hiding places to feed on insects in the surface waters.
This secretive catfish requires a mature aquarium with a soft sand substrate and plenty of shady hiding places amongst the crevices in rocky caves, driftwood pieces, bamboo tubes etc. Although plants are largely absent from its natural habitat, they can be very useful in shading out bright lighting and providing additional hiding places. Robust species such as Java Fern and Anubias sp. are good choices, as they often cope well with moderate lighting and a good current, which wood cats prefer. This peaceful, gregarious species is best kept in groups of 5 or more, and is safe with most fish that can’t be swallowed whole. Adults may predate on small fishes during their nocturnal feeding forays, so choose tankmates with care. Although newly-introduced fishes tend to be shy and largely nocturnal, established specimens will spend much more time actively swimming with members of their own species, especially at feeding time.
May also be seen on sale as Midnight catfish and long confused with the closely related A. thoracatus, which seems to have been a historic case of mistaken identity.
Feeding
Easily fed with a wide range of dried foods to ensure optimal nutrition. These can be supplemented with frozen and live foods, which usually prompt a strong feeding response. Woodcats particularly enjoy insect and shrimp frozen foods such as bloodworm, mysis and krill.
Breeding
This species has been bred in the home aquarium, and mature fish will spawn readily. Fertilisation takes place internally during a spawning embrace, the male using his modified anal fin to inseminate the female. Eggs are deposited in vegetation and no parental care is given. The fry will be free-swimming in around 7-10 days. Once free-swimming, the young can be offered baby brineshrimp (Artemia nauplii) and microworm.
