Taxonomy & naming
Described by George Albert Boulenger in 1900 as a Eutropius and later moved to Pareutropius, hence the parentheses. The type locality is Uerre, Democratic Republic of Congo. It is a valid species in the Catalog of Fishes. The epithet is a Latinised surname; the dedication is not documented in the sources available to the atlas.
Morphology
A slender, laterally compressed catfish with a long anal fin, a short adipose fin and a forked tail, and four pairs of barbels. FishBase gives a maximum of 5 in SL, and a maximum total length of 6 in is recorded.
Habitat
FishBase lists the Congo River basin except the Zambian Congo, plus the Rembo Ngove, Nyanga, Ogooue, Kouilou and Chiloango rivers of Gabon, the Republic of Congo and Angola. It is a gregarious riverine species found in large, moderate and small water systems.
Feeding
A carnivore with a preference for insects, according to FishBase; in the aquarium it takes small frozen foods, flakes and fine pellets.
Mating
FishBase describes a schooling species whose reproduction probably coincides mainly with flood periods.
Breeding
The species is oviparous and the eggs are unguarded, according to FishBase, which also links spawning to flood periods. No aquarium breeding record is known to the atlas.
In the aquarium
Keep a group of six or more, because singles are nervous. Offer a long tank with open swimming space, plants and moderate flow, with peaceful tankmates. Warm, soft-to-neutral water suits Congo-basin fishes. Handle with care, since it has a spined dorsal and pectoral fin.
Conservation
The IUCN Red List assessed Pareutropius debauwi as Least Concern in 2009.