Care
The Jaguar Catfish is known from tributaries of the Amazon, Negro, and Ucayali River basins. This highly patterned bottom-dweller is predatory and nocturnal, hiding away during the day and emerging at night to feed. It requires a spacious softwater aquarium with a sand substrate in order to protect the sensory barbels. There should be plenty of hiding places amongst driftwood, rocky caves, PVC pipes, and robust planting. The more hiding places that are provided, the more this shy catfish is likely to venture out and about, as it will get to know it has safe places to quickly retreat to if it feels the need. Dim lighting is preferred, but this can be brighter if it is diffused with broad leaved species or floating plants. A blue moon light timed to come on just before the main lights switch off will provide you with time in the evening to watch the nocturnal antics of this catfish under its preferred subdued conditions. Filtration should be efficient, with moderate water flow. Frequent partial water changes are essential to keep the nitrate level at a minimum. The Jaguar Catfish is generally peaceful although it will eat small fish overnight, so these must be avoided. Only if there is sufficient space and an abundance of visual barriers, should a group of these catfish be considered - and then they must be observed carefully. In most cases, they will behave territorially towards other fish that occupy the lower levels, so they should be the only bottom-dweller, and kept singly unless homed in vast quarters. If another fish ventures in to an occupied cave, the Jaguar Catfish will vigorously defend its hidey hole and even emit audible deep grunts. Large armoured catfish, sizeable South American cichlids, medium-large barbs, Distichodus spp., and adult silver dollars could all be considered good companions. The specific epithet "oncinus" is derived from the Latin for its namesake, the Jaguar (Panthera onca).
Feeding
Offer a varied selection of meaty foods. Smaller specimens will take bloodworm, Mysis shrimp, chopped seafood, small pieces of meat etc. Larger specimens will enjoy earthworms, prawns, cockle, mussel, crab/crayfish meat etc. Some will also relish tablet food, particularly sinking carnivore pellets.
Breeding
This egglaying species has been bred in the home aquarium, but unfortunately details are very scarce.
