▷ Dwarf shield catfish | Peckoltia vittata | All information and details

Data sheet dwarf shield catfish

German name:
dwarf shield catfish

Scientific name:
Peckoltia vittata

Origin:
South America (Rio Xingú in Brazil)

Size:
Body length 12cm – 15cm

Aquarium

Length:
Length from 80 cm width

Contents:
from 120 liters

water values

Temperature:
24°-29° C

pH:
6 – 7.5

GH:
2° – 15° dH

Behave

Area:
lower area, near the ground

Lining:
Frozen food, live food, dry food, green food, food tablets

Behave:
peaceful, can easily be socialized with other species

Number:
in pairs or in small groups

Difficulty level:
Beginner

eckoltia brevis female Source: Image on Wikimedia Commons License: CC Attr. SA 3.0 Author: Hantanplan

Especially young Peckoltia vittata can hardly be distinguished from Peckoltia pulcher. Therefore, the animals are often sold and kept under false names. Both types are therefore described here together.

Peckoltia vittata, L 15, are also often confused with L 103 and Panaqolus maccus (L 104). Especially animals that rasp a lot of wood could be Panaque.

The names mentioned in pictures in books and on the Internet are correspondingly uncertain.

Peckoltia vittata are at least 8 centimeters tall. Depending on the substrate, they can change their color.

Peckoltia pulcher remain about a centimeter smaller.

Peckoltia vittata and Peckoltia pulcher are good algae eaters. However, one cannot rely on all animals eating algae well. There are also reports that hardly any algae are eaten. Presumably, how much algae is eaten also depends on the other feeding methods. Perhaps animals that eat little algae are also Panaqolus maccus.

It is also unclear whether Peckoltia vittata and Peckoltia pulcher eat plants. Some animals sold under these names eat plants, while other animals do not. Feeding also plays a role here. If the animals don’t get one or two feed tablets containing plants or other green fodder every day, Amazon leaves, for example, are grated. Young shoots of various plant species are also at risk.

Peckoltia vittata, dwarf shield catfish, and Peckoltia pulcher are usually active at night and lie under roots etc. during the day. Especially when they are newly acclimated and there are other larger fish in the aquarium.

Some animals are also more active during the day, especially when they are acclimated and there are no large fish in the tank.
They can fight fiercely with each other and with other fish for food, especially when fed with tablets.

Females of the species pictured in the mergus as Peckoltia pulcher grow to about 11 centimeters. They feel very comfortable at 28°. They eat a lot of algae, even red algae. Otherwise cucumber and boiled frozen peas are eaten. Mostly the animals hang on or under roots.

Why species identification is so difficult

Peckoltia sp. (L 218) Source: Image on Wikimedia Commons License: CC Attr. SA 3.0 Author: Frank-Christian Baum

Determining the species of loricariids is basically very difficult because many species have not yet been scientifically described. This can be recognized by the many L numbers. In order to determine the species, information about the locality is often required. Unfortunately, it is not sufficient to state the pet shop Bahnhofstrasse.

The only way to find out if you really have eg a Peckoltia pulcher is to soak the catfish in question in alcohol or neutralized formalin and drive to the museum where the holotype of Peckoltia pulcher is kept. Then you have the holotype handed to you and compare it with the pickled catfish. If both animals are identical, both animals are Peckoltia pulcher.

Basically, one can only compare one’s own catfish with catfish shown in books, on websites, etc. and, regardless of the name given, take into account the keeping conditions in the description of the picture.

General information about Peckoltia angelicus

Peckoltia angelicus are listed under 4 L numbers:

The different numbers refer to different age stages and different locality variants. L4 are juvenile, i.e. young, animals. L73 are adult, i.e. fully grown animals.

The species belongs to the genus Hypancistrus. They grow to about 12 centimeters.

The water for keeping and breeding should be soft to medium-hard and slightly acidic. Suitable breeding cavities are necessary for breeding.

Like all Hypancistrus, Peckoltia angelicus tend to feed on growth due to the reduced teeth. They prefer animal food and hardly eat algae.

Lettuce is eaten. However, frozen food and spirulina tablets are more suitable and are readily accepted.

Peckoltia angelicus are not particularly active. When they are hungry, they occasionally come out of their hiding places to be fed. Otherwise they prefer to stay hidden.