Care
Brichard's Catfish is known from the rapids of the Lower Congo River where it inhabits the turbulent environments underneath waterfalls. The aquarium should be spacious (~4ft long) with a soft sandy substrate in order to protect the long sensory barbels. It should be decorated with a good amount of bogwood, rocky caves/PVC tubes, and robust planting to provide shady areas, but you should also ensure that a roomy swimming space is left along the front of the tank. Filtration should be efficient with areas of vigorous water movement and a high level of oxygenation. Frequent partial water changes are a must to help keep nitrate to a minimum. These fish are most comfortable in aquaria with subdued lighting, and the use of blue-moon type illumination is highly recommended so that you may observe a few hours of the nightly goings-on in an aquarium containing these streamlined catfish. Ensure that heaters are covered with heater guards to prevent them from being burned when looking for dark crevices to rest against. More than one may be kept together providing that there is an abundance of hiding places and visual barriers within the tank. Companions should be peaceful and larger than 3.5cm (1.4") in length (otherwise they may be predated upon); good tankmates could include some of the current-loving
Steatocranus spp. cichlids, Alestid tetras, and medium sized barbs. May also be seen on sale as Brichard's Synodontis.
Feeding
Omnivorous. Offer a variety meaty frozen foods such as bloodworm, white mosquito larvae, Spirulina/vitamin-enriched brineshrimp, Mysis shrimp etc., along with some sinking catfish pellets/tablets/granules. Be sure to offer some vegetable matter such as cucumber, courgette, spinach, and shelled peas, along with occasional algae wafers.
Breeding
This species has not been bred in the home aquarium. However, it is bred on a commercial basis via hormone injection.
