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Catfish
/ Pimelodidae / Tiger Shovelnose Catfish
Tiger Shovelnose Catfish
Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum | Pictures
Synonyms: Platystoma
fasciatum, P. punctifer, Pseudoplatystoma punctifer
Physical description: This catfish has an elongated body and a long snout. Its mouth is large and looks like
a duck-bill. Three pair of long barbels extend from it. This fish is slender and its body coloring ranges greatly
depending on the individuals habitat and age. Its coloration usually ranges between silver and brown while its
belly is usually white to silver. Black spots and stripes
are arranged in irregular patterns on the fish
body and fins. The eyes are relatively small.
Size/Length: To 40" (100 cm) in nature, not usually more than 24" (60 cm) in captivity.
Habitat: South AmericA: Rio Negro, Peru; Rio Lebrijo, Venezuela;
S: bottom, middle
Aquarium: 48" (122 cm) or 55 or more gallons (209 L) is sufficient for small individuals
under 6" (15 cm).
At the point that the fish surpasses 6" (15 cm), it must be moved to a substantially
larger tank.
Eventually, a full-grown specimen must be donated to a public aquarium or moved to a 180 or more,
gallon tank.
The tank should have large, open swimming areas.
Use large, sturdy, well-rooted plants.
Small
plants will be hopelessly buried or up-rooted.
Provide sturdy hiding places with caves, rocks, or wood.
Use
fine gravel as a substrate.
Water chemistry: pH 6-8 (7.0), 4-30 dH (15), 75-82°F (24-28°C)
Social behavior: See Sorubim
lima.
Suggested companions: See Sorubim
lima.
FOOD: Live; fish, earthworms; other large live foods; tablets; dead fish; meat scraps
SEX: Unknown
Breeding techniques: Unknown
Breeding potential: 10.
Breeding has not be accomplished in aquaria.
Remarks: This is the most popular of the
Pseudoplatystoma species of which there
are five subspecies.
A popular food fish in South America that can be found widely in fish markets.
Difficulty of care: 7.
A large predator that requires live foods.
As it grows very large, the Tiger Shovelnose
Catfish must be moved to a huge tank.
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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