Oil catfish (Duringlanis perugiae) care guide

Group

Freshwater fish

Other names

Oil cat, Woodcat, Centromochlus perugiae, Tatia perugiae

Family

Auchenipteridae (driftwood catfishes)

Origin

Upper Amazon basin in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru (type locality Canelos, eastern Ecuador) – fairly shallow, fast-flowing rivers with sandy or rocky beds and little vegetation.

Water

freshwater

Maximum size

6 cm

Temperature

26–28°C

pH

6–7.8

Hardness

3–18 dGH (estimated)

Minimum tank

60 litres

Care level

intermediate

Temperament

peaceful

Care

A small, attractive woodcat (driftwood catfish) with a dark body covered in pale spots. It is a secretive fish that spends the day wedged into a crevice and comes out to feed, so it suits a quiet tank where it is not out-competed. PlanetCatfish describes it as a river fish of fairly shallow water with lots of rocks and little vegetation, and FishBase notes swift water with hard, sandy bottoms. Give it a tank with good water movement and plenty of narrow hiding places – rock piles, driftwood with cracks and holes, or short lengths of pipe – so each fish has its own bolt-hole. A tight-fitting lid is sensible. No source gives a tank size; around 60 litres for a small group is our estimate from its adult size. Keep it warm: PlanetCatfish gives 26–28 °C, which FishBase confirms. Neither source gives pH or hardness figures, so aim for clean, well-oxygenated, stable water and avoid extremes. Sexing is straightforward in adults: males have a modified anal fin, similar to the gonopodium of livebearers, while females have a normal anal fin. Name notes: PlanetCatfish and FishBase both use Duringlanis perugiae. It was long sold as Centromochlus perugiae and, before that, Tatia perugiae, and you may still see those names on sale lists. It is named after the ichthyologist Albert Perugia. FishBase lists it as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List (2020). Sources: PlanetCatfish (planetcatfish.com/common/species.php?speciesid=367); FishBase (fishbase.se/summary/Duringlanis-perugiae.html). Checked October 2026.

Diet

In the wild it feeds mainly on insects that land on the water, especially ants, beetles and mayflies. In the aquarium it feeds at the surface: offer floating pellets plus frozen and freeze-dried foods such as bloodworm, brine shrimp and small insect larvae. Feed around lights-out, when it is most willing to come out.

Breeding

PlanetCatfish holds a number of breeding reports. Like other woodcats it uses internal fertilisation: the male passes sperm to the female using his modified anal fin, and the female later lays the fertilised eggs in a cave. FishBase notes that the female guards the brood. Provide caves or pipes, condition the fish well on varied foods, and remove the eggs or young if other fish share the tank.

Compatibility and tank mates

Peaceful and suitable for a calm community of small to medium fish that will not out-compete it for food or bully it, such as tetras, pencilfish, small peaceful cichlids and corys. It is an insect-eater with a modest mouth, but very small fry or tiny fish may still be at risk. Avoid large, boisterous or predatory tankmates.

Last updated 5 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.