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Catfish
/ Pimelodidae / Bumble Bee Catfish
Bumble Bee Catfish
Pseudopimelodus raninus | Pictures
Synonyms: Batrachoglanis
raninus, Pimelodus raninus
Physical description:
Size/Length: To 6" (15 cm)
Similar species: Other Pseudopimelodus
species
S: bottom
Habitat: South America; widespread in the Amazon river from Surinam to Peru
Aquarium: A 40" (102 cm) tank with a capacity from 45-55 gallons (170-209 L) is sufficient.
The
tank can be well-planted and should be furnished with several retreats.
Dim lighting is suggested.
Water chemistry: pH 5.8-7.5 (6.7), 2-20 dH (8), 70-81°F (21-27°C)
Social behavior: A seclusive predator that may consume fish up to 3" (8 cm) in length.
This nocturnal species may disappear
for long periods.
Can be kept singly or in groups.
Suggested companions: Angelfish, Acaras,
Cichlasoma from Central America, Loricarids,
Leporinus, Anostomus, Chalceus, Myleus, Metynnis,
Pimelodus, Knifefish
FOOD: Live; worms, crustaceans, fish, insect larvae, aquatic insects; tablets.
SEX: Males are said to be slimmer than females.
Breeding techniques: Unsuccessful.
Breeding potential: 10.
Has yet to be bred in aquaria.
Remarks: As a result of this species's wide distribution, several different forms exist.
Thus
the species has been broken down into sub-species.
Difficulty of care:
5.
This subtle predator is quite hardy and adaptable to a broad range of water properties.
Recent articles about fish
Overfishing may hurt Amazon forest trees
(2/5/2008) Overfishing is reducing the effectiveness of seed dispersal by fish in the Brazilian Pantanal, reports Nature. The research suggests that fishing practices can affect forest health.
Scientists find fish that literally lives in trees
(10/17/2007) Scientists have found a fish that literally lives in trees, according to research published in The American Naturalist and highlighted in New Scientist Magazine.
Piranhas originated when Amazon was flooded by seawater
(12/4/2007) South America's piranha family of fish -- notorious as eaters of flesh -- can be traced back to a single ancestor which dispersed when the Amazon was flooded by seawater some five million years ago, report researchers from the Institut de Recherche Pour le Developpement (IRD). Today piranhas are exclusively freshwater fish found from the Orinoco River basin in Venezuela to the Parana in Argentina.
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