What is An Armored Catfish?
The Loricariidae, or the armored catfish, is one of the largest families of catfish. There are over 650 species of this catfish currently known, with more springing up yearly. Its overabundance in some regions has made fishing for this family of fish a profitable business, and some of its characteristics make it the perfect addition to an aquarium.
Location
They call tropical, freshwater habitats home, such as Costa Rica or tropical waters in Africa. Although this is where this fish is from, it can be found in warm waters across the world. They have been relocated to Florida and Texas due to hurricanes, have been released into the wild by fish owners and have grown to enormous numbers in various parts of the world.
Appearance
The appearance of the armored catfish is where it gets its name from. Bony plates that look like armor cover the triangular-shaped body of this fish. Although it looks mean, the armored catfish does not have the ability to attack or bite people because it does not have any teeth. This has given it the nickname “suckerfish” in many areas. This version of suckerfish will only grow to 1 or 1 ½ feet long, and the most they weigh is typically a couple of pounds.
Diet
Because these fish do not have teeth, their diet is a bit more limited than other members of the catfish family. They survive by sucking the algae off of plants that are underwater or the bottom of the riverbed. Fish eggs are a common part of their diet as well. In captivity, algae eaters eat the algae that accumulate on the bottom of the tank or the sides of the tank.
Interesting Facts
There are a couple of interesting facts that make suckerfish stand out from other fish. They are nocturnal but do not need “whiskers” to find food in the dark. Instead, they can use their eyes, which are adapted to low lighting. These cool fish can also survive for a little over a day outside of water provided they have enough oxygen stored inside of them. Another interesting fact and something that aquarium owners need to keep in mind are that they are not always friendly towards their own kind. Armored catfish can make excellent tank mates to other species of fish but can become aggressive when housed with other fish from the same family.
Naturally Invasive
Armored catfish are naturally invasive due to several characteristics they have. Because these suckerfish eat fish eggs that are laid, they have the potential to wipe out an entire species or at least cause numbers of other fish to drastically decline. Then, they lay their own eggs by the thousands. The male fish protects the eggs so that other species of fish cannot hurt the unborn fish, guaranteeing their survival. Because of this, they have become an invasive species in many areas, including Florida and Texas.
These fish are plentiful in the wild, taste delicious, and are a wonderful, low maintenance addition to aquariums. Not only are they useful, but they also have an aesthetic appeal that sets them apart from other families of fish that seems to instantly attract people to them.
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