Saw Scaled Stone Catfish (Lithodoras dorsalis) CareSheet

The Saw Scale Stone Catfish, also known as the Rock Bacu, is a big growing Doradid native to the northeastern coast of South America and the lower Amazon and Essequibo Rivers. It is infrequently seen in the hobby but makes an excellent show fish in a sufficiently large tank. It prefers open water portions of river, typically in murky "white water" stretches, where it feeds on a range of things including as snails, crustaceans, and even fruit and vegetable waste in the wild. The Saw Scale Rock Catfish is often found at river mouths, including estuary and brackish environments, and may adapt to medium intensity brackish water over time. This catfish is a robust and energetic swimmer that will normally avoid most tankmates who are too large to eat, but it needs lots of open swimming area and like current.



Origin: Wild Brazil
Locale: Mouth of Rio Amazonas outside Belem
Diet: Insectivore and scavenger. Will accept most sinking frozen and prepared foods
Adult Size: 30"+
Recommended Tank Size: 300 gallons+
Compatibility: Peaceful, compatible with most similarly sized fish
Preferred Water Parameters
pH: 6.5 - 8.0
Temp: 78-82F
Ammonia: 0ppm
Nitrite: 0ppm
Nitrate: 30ppm