PlanetCatfish.com - Chiloglanis pretoriae (Mochokidae) Cat-eLog

Close-up of head
Close-up of mouth
Habitat: Crocodile River
Dorsal view
Ventral view

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Chiloglanis pretoriae** Van Der Horst, 1931
Common Names	Shortspine Rock Catlet Kortstekel-suierbekkie (South African), Limpopo Rock Catlet, Shortspine Suckermouth
Type Locality	Crocodile River, Pretoria District, Transvaal [now Gauteng], South Africa.
Synonym(s)	Chiloglanis pumilus
Pronunciation	Kee low glan iss
Etymology	Chiloglanis: From the Greek cheilos, meaning lip, and glanis, meaning catfish; in reference to the oral morphology. Pretoriae, a reference to Pretoria.
Articles	- CotM 2012 January
Species Information
Size	65mm or 2.6" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	The second largest catfish genus in Africa after Synodontis. They are characterized by jaws and lips modified into a sucker or oral disc used for adhering to and feeding upon objects in fast-flowing waters. Generally reasonably small at 100 mm SL or less. species with forked caudal fins can show sexual dimorphism and is usually species-specific. Other characteristics in this hard-to-ID genus are the size of the adipose fin, the position of the adipose fin relative to pelvic and ventral fins, size of barbles, eyes and dorsal fin. Only a handful of species are identified on colouration. They can be distinguished from other African suckermouth catfish (of the genera Euchilichthys and Atopochilus) by their circular suckermouth disc. This is more elliptical in the other two genera. Dark brown with small lighter patches on back and a distinctive series of verticle spots along body. Coloration is somewhat variable between populations. Turns a golden-yellow overall when stressed.
Sexing	Males possess a distinct genital papilla.
Habitat Information
Distribution	Africa: Limpopo, Incomati River systems and from the middle and lower Zambezi, Pungwe and Buzi systems. African Waters, Limpopo (click on these areas to find other species found there) African Waters, Pungwe (click on these areas to find other species found there) African Waters, Zambesi, Middle Zambesi (click on these areas to find other species found there) African Waters, Zambesi, Lower Zambesi (click on these areas to find other species found there) African Waters, Buzi (click on these areas to find other species found there) Login to view the map.
IUCN Red List Category	Least Concern , range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2017.
pH	6.7 - 7.6
Temperature	22.5-25.0°C or 72.5-77°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters	High oxygen levels. This fish greatly appreciates water movement and will always seek out the strongest currents in the aquarium.
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Live and frozen foods. Specimens kept for sometime in captivity may eventually take small amounts of flake foods. User data.
Furniture	Occurs in shallow rocky reaches, riffle, and rapids. Fry are found along submersed vegetation along the river's banks.
Compatibility	A peaceful fish.
Suggested Tankmates	Cool water cyprinids.
Breeding	Unreported.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Annals of the Transvaal Museum v. 14 (pt 3), pp 248, Fig. 2.
Registered Keepers	There is but a single registered keeper, view all "my cats" data.
Wishlists	Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list. There is but a single wish to keep this species, see who wants what.
Spotters	Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars! There are 3 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.13.145.585
Last Update	2025 Jan 02 01:37 (species record created: 2006 Dec 23 10:14)