Care
The Leopard Frog Peckoltia is a beautiful small species of suckermouth catfish found in clear water rivers in rocky habitats that provide plenty of cover.
This fish is very suitable for mature soft water aquaria that are warm and well-oxygenated. Juveniles have a more intense yellow background colour with regular banding, whereas in adult specimens, the yellow tends to fade and the number of dark stripes can increase and/or break up into spots. Leopard Frog Peckoltias will feel most at home under subdued lighting. Plenty of decor consisting primarily of bogwood, with rocks/cobbles and robust planting will all help to create much-appreciated shady refuges. The water should be well-filtered and a decent current provided in order to simulate the highly-oxygenated waters the Leopard Frog Peckoltias originate from. This bottom-dwelling species is generally peaceful, although can be a little territorial with its own kind and similar species. More than one specimen may be kept in the same tank if it is spacious and multiple hiding places/visual barriers are provided. Tankmates tend to be largely ignored and this fish is compatible with a wide range of species, from tetras to eartheaters.
Feeding
An omnivorous species with a preference for meaty foods. Offer a variety of foodstuffs including sinking catfish pellets/granules/tablets/algae wafers and frozen foods such as mosquito larvae, Spirulina-enriched brineshrimp, Mysis shrimp, chopped krill etc as well as some vegetable matter such as blanched spinach, kale, cucumber etc.
Breeding
Leopard Frog Peckoltias have been successfully bred in the home aquarium, and this is best achieved with a tank dedicated solely to this species. Provide several small caves that are just bigger than the fish (small pieces of slate stuck together with aquarium-safe silicon are ideal) and perform a series of small partial water changes with cooler water. RO is the best choice, so that the hardness of the water can be reduced slightly too. The female will visit the male's cave and if ready to spawn, she will spend some time in the cave and deposit the eggs. She will then be ousted from the cave, and the male will remain with the eggs, fanning them with his pectoral fins. It is said that spawning can sometimes be a little rough, and sometimes the female will come away with a few minor wounds. The eggs take about 7 days to hatch, although this will be temperature dependent. The wrigglers will feed from their yolk sacs for the first week or so, and after that they should be offered suitably sized foodstuffs such as newly hatched baby brineshrimp.
