Driftwood Catfish

Driftwood Catfish - A Shy, Wood-Grazing Oddball for Calm Community Tanks

The Driftwood Catfish is a slender, twig-like species that spends much of its time clinging to and rasping algae from submerged wood, blending seamlessly into a well-aquascaped tank. Its elongated body and subdued colouration give it a naturally camouflaged look among driftwood and root tangles.

This is a shy, retiring species that prefers a settled aquarium with plenty of cover, only becoming more visible once it feels secure. It's a fascinating addition for keepers who want to observe genuinely different feeding behaviour compared to typical catfish.

At N8 Aquatics, our fish are carefully raised and conditioned to ensure healthy stock suited to home aquariums.

Species Snapshot

• Size Sold: Juvenile, 4-6 cm
• Adult Size: Up to 15 cm
• Tank Size: 100 L minimum, needs driftwood present to graze on and hide among
• Temperament: Peaceful, shy
• Temperature: 24-28°C
• pH: 6.0-7.5
• Difficulty: Moderate (sensitive to poor water quality)

Ideal Habitat and Care

A piece of driftwood is essential for this species to graze on and hide among, and stable, clean water is important given its sensitivity to poor water quality.

• Temperature: 24-28°C
• pH: 6.0-7.5
• Water Flow: Gentle to moderate
• Maintenance: Frequent, consistent water changes to maintain water quality

Diet

This species grazes naturally on wood, so diet should reflect this.

• Sinking algae wafers as a staple
• A piece of driftwood to rasp on
• Occasional frozen food for variety

Compatibility

A calm, non-competitive feeder, it does best with equally gentle tankmates.

Suitable tankmates include:

• Calm community fish
• Peaceful tetras and rasboras
• Other bottom dwellers of a gentle nature

Avoid aggressive or fin-nipping species.

Why Buy From N8 Aquatics

• Carefully raised aquarium fish
• Healthy, well-conditioned stock
• Strong genetics and vibrant colouration
• Breeder support if you have questions

Pickup Information

N8 Aquatics currently operates as a local pickup-only breeder in Central Queensland.

Orders are collected by appointment after purchase confirmation.

Please ensure you are able to collect your fish before placing an order.

Important

All livestock sold by N8 Aquatics should be introduced to fully cycled aquariums suitable for the species being kept.

Please ensure your aquarium setup and tankmates are appropriate before purchasing.