Centromochlus orca
Orca Woodcat (Centromochlus orca)
Orca Woodcat (Centromochlus orca)
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Remarks: The orca woodcat is possibly one of the most desirable woodcat species available to hobbyists. While most species of woodcat are mostly a muted tan or silver color, the orca woodcat stands out with a stark white belly and a midnight black top separated by a wavey border. Such coloration gives credence to how they ended up being named after the famous black and white cetacean. Their elegant coloration is not the only reason the orca woodcat is so coveted. It also makes a great community tank member with its peaceful disposition and the fact it does not require a very large aquarium due to its small size.
While the orca woodcat is very unique, it does have at least one lookalike, Centromochlus musaicus, the ninja woodcat. Both species sport black and white coloration making them often confused for one another, but there are ways to tell them apart. First is to find out where the fish came from. The orca woodcat is found only within the lower rio Nhamundá in Brazil while the ninja woodcat is from the upper and middle rio Orinoco in Venezuela. If you do not know where the fish in question is from, you can take a look at its pattern. The orca woodcat differs from the ninja woodcat in that the ninja woodcat does not have a white spot/blotch underneath the dorsal fin. The ninja woodcat also has far more black coloration while the orca woodcat has more even color distribution. While using coloration is not always a 100% accurate way to identify similar species, it can give you a good guess.
Like with all woodcats, the orca woodcat is a shy, nocturnal specie whose large eyes allow it to have excellent night vision. In the wild, it spends daylight hour hiding in crevices of wood or amongst leaf litter, but cruises the surface at night looking for fallen insects to feed on. You can expect similar behavior from the orca woodcat in the home aquarium with them usually only coming out of hiding when there is food or the lights go out. Do not fret over them remaining completely still all day long as this is normal behavior. To encourage your woodcats to come out of hiding and feel safe, provide plenty of hiding spots with plants, leaf litter, and driftwood. Keep lighting to a minimum as well. Only housing them with other peaceful species that are not overly boisterous will also aid in their comfort.
Since the orca woodcat naturally inhabits areas of warm, low flow, soft, and acidic waters, replicating these conditions will help keep them healthy and happy long-term. Being insectivores, they will appreciate a diet of frozen-thawed foods such as bloodworms and brine shrimp, live foods like tubifex and blackworms, and prepared foods such as gels and sinking pellets high in insect protein. Use caution feeding foods with animal meat such as beef heart as this can cause the orca woodcat digestive issues if not limited to only being an occasional treat. If fed during the day, they will usually only go for sinking foods. However, at night you can sometimes have them feed on floating foods such as flakes.
The orca woodcat, along with other closely related species, has been the subject of great scrutiny on what genus it should be placed in. Ever since its first scientific description in the 1970s, it has been moved back and forth between the Tatia genus and the Centromochlus genus. The most recent update occurred in 2020 with a study placing it in the Centromochlus genus so we shall refer to it as such for the time being.
Animal Data
Animal Data
- Native to: Brazil
- Breeding: Wild-caught in Brazil
- Max adult size: 2-3"
- Diet: Carnivore
- Social behavior: Peaceful
- Care skill: Intermediate
Tank Parameters
Tank Parameters
- Temp range: 76°F - 84°F
- pH range: 5.5 - 7.0
- TDS range: 15 ppm - 150 ppm
- Min Tank Size:
Shipping Info
Shipping Info
We provide premium next day air shipping at affordable flat rates to minimize transit time for the health of the fish.
| US Zone 1 | UPS Overnight | $39.99 |
| US Zone 2 | UPS Overnight | $49.99 |
| US Zone 3 | UPS Overnight | $59.99 |
| US Zone 4 |
UPS Overnight |
$69.99 |
| Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Alaska | UPS Overnight 1-2 Day Air | Starts at $89.99 |
| Canada | UPS Overnight -2 Day Air | Starts at $89.99 |
| Florida | UPS 1 Day Ground | $19.99 |
| Local pickup | Select at checkout | No charge |
| No overseas shipping | ||
Minimum order for all shipping is $50 for mainland US, $100 elsewhere. Saturday delivery available for an extra $30. Shipping to Alaska and Canada is not flat rate and can be subject to additional fees based on location.
Important order and shipping info
Allow 2-4 business days to process and pack your order. You will receive a notification when it actually ships. Order cancellations are subject to a 10% restocking fee. Order changes cannot be made. However, if you wish to add to your order within 24 hours, you may place a second order with a request to combine the shipments. We will do our best to accommodate, however once an order is packaged and sealed it cannot be reopened.
Your order is covered by our Healthy & Happy Arrival Guarantee.
Why buy from us?
Our Healthy & Happy Arrival guarantee
We've been packing and shipping live fish for over 50 years. When you buy from us, you get the healthiest stock and most experienced live fish shipping in the industry. So you know you won't be disappointed!
Will my fish look like the picture?
The majority of fish on our website will NOT look like their photos upon their unboxing. Fish change in appearance depending on many factors, including mood, age, gender, and social status. Fish will naturally lose color during shipping and may appear faded upon arrival. Pictures are used as examples only. Pictures may be of mature fish with full color or juvenile fish without color. We encourage you to research the species as much as possible prior to ordering in order to familiarize yourself with the various appearances they may take on. Many species have females that look drastically different to their male counterparts, and many juveniles will not have as much color (or different colors) as their adult forms. If you have questions about how the fish will look, please review their information and email us if you have any questions.
How do I know which fish can go together in my tank?
Research the product descriptions on our website and use Google search to help decide which fish can go together. PLEASE do your research and email us if you have any questions. Also, we have a very active Facebook group called Imperial Tropicals Fishkeepers where you can learn from knowledgable and experienced fishkeepers.
How do you ship live fish? Sounds risky!
We've been shipping live fish for over 50 years. we use specialized packaging and techniques to ensure their health. See how we do it.
How much does shipping cost?
We provide premium next day air shipping at affordable flat rates to minimize transit time for the health of the fish.
| US Zone 1 | UPS Overnight | $39.99 |
| US Zone 2 | UPS Overnight | $49.99 |
| US Zone 3 | UPS Overnight | $59.99 |
| US Zone 4 |
UPS Overnight |
$69.99 |
| Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Alaska | UPS Overnight 1-2 Day Air | Starts at $89.99 |
| Canada | UPS Overnight -2 Day Air | Starts at $89.99 |
| Florida | UPS 1 Day Ground | $19.99 |
| Local pickup | Select at checkout | No charge |
| No overseas shipping | ||
Minimum order for all shipping is $50 for mainland US, $100 elsewhere. Saturday delivery available for an extra $30. Shipping to Alaska and Canada is not flat rate and can be subject to additional fees based on location.
Important order and shipping info
Allow 2-4 business days to process and pack your order. You will receive a notification when it actually ships. Order cancellations are subject to a 10% restocking fee. Order changes cannot be made. However, if you wish to add to your order within 24 hours, you may place a second order with a request to combine the shipments. We will do our best to accommodate, however once an order is packaged and sealed it cannot be reopened.
Your order is covered by our Healthy & Happy Arrival Guarantee.
When will I get my order?
We need 2-4 days to select and pack your fish, you'll get a notification when it ships along with tracking info. It will arrive the next day or day after, depending on your location. See our Shipping Policy for full info.
What if my order is delayed? Will my fish be OK?
We ship hundreds of packages a week, and most are delivered without any issues thanks to our experienced team and premium air courier service. Our high-tech packaging is designed to sustain the animals a minimum of 2-3 days in the box, and in some cases longer, depending on the breed.
However, sometimes delays do occur. If this happens to your order, please document and contact us promptly following our inspection and documentation policies above in order to receive credit.
Can I change or cancel my order after it is placed?
Orders can be changed or cancelled within 24 hours, subject to a 10% restocking fee. Shipping is stressful for the animals and we cannot open boxes once they have been prepped and packed.
Can you hold my order until my tank is ready?
We can hold for a few days, but not beyond a week as inventory changes rapidly. Please only place your order when you know you will be ready to receive them.
What if my order is missing something?
First, please check the box and packaging thoroughly. If you are sure an item is missing please contact us immediately.
Do you offer pickup on local orders?
Yes! Just specify local pickup as your shipping option in checkout and we'll let you know when it is ready.
What if a fish I receive seems dead, sick or doesn't look right?
97% of our orders arrive without an issue. But if something goes wrong, no worries! You're covered under our Healthy & Happy Arrival Guarantee