PlanetCatfish.com - Pseudacanthicus major (Loricariidae) Cat-eLog

Adult

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Pseudacanthicus major** Chamon & Costa e Silva, 2018
Common Names	L186, Giant Cactus Pleco Kæmpe-kaktussugemalle (Denmark)
Type Locality	Rio Areias near to the confluence with rio Tocantins, Porto Nacional, Brazil, 1050'30"S, 4823'35"W.
Pronunciation	SUE dah KAN thi cuss
Etymology	Pseud- Greek: False, Acanthicus - Greek: Spiny, Thorny. Literally "False Acanthicus" referring to this genus being similar to, yet different from, Acanthicus.
Species Information
Size	600mm or 23.6" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	The German common name for this genus is ''Cactus Pleco''. A good name! Pseudacanthicus is a member of the Acanthicus clade. Species of the Acanthicus clade are distinguished from other Loricariidae species by the presence of (1) longitudinal rows of keels (pointed odontodes) along the body sides; (2) eight or more dorsal-fin rays (vs. six or seven in most other loricariids except Pterygoplichthys, Chaetostoma, Pogonopoma and Pseudancistrus pectegenitor); (3) seven to eight infraorbitals (vs. usually five or six); (4) five anal-fin branched rays (vs. usually four); and (5) presence of hypertrophied odontodes along the snout margin (vs. hypertrophied odontodes absent in other loricariids except Isbrueckerichthys and Pareiorhaphis, in Neoplecostominae; Panaque and Pseudancistrus and Neblinichthys, in Ancistrini; and most dimorphic males of Loricariinae). Within the Acanthicus group, Pseudacanthicus is distinguished by the presence of two small plates in the posterior area of the compound pterotic (vs. one median plate or plate absent), and by the presence of narrow premaxillae with a small number of elongate and curved teeth (except from Leporacanthicus).
Sexing	Mature males have considerably more odontodal growth on most fins rays but the pectorals are most adorned. Females fill out quite considerably in relation to the slender males.
Habitat Information
Distribution	Brazil, Rio Tocantins Amazon, Lower Amazon, Tocantins (click on these areas to find other species found there) Login to view the map.
IUCN Red List Category	Not Evaluated
Temperature	23.0-27.0°C or 73.4-80.6°F (Show species within this range)
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Carnivore although not a predator, prawns and chopped mussel appear favourites and promote favourable growth. Some vegetable should also be provided and thus balances diet. User data.
Furniture	Proportionally sized pieces of bogwood (the fish does not appear to particularly like rock work) are a good idea as are equally dimensioned pipes. Plants are just a nuisance to this fish and while not orally molested, they tend to be battered by the fishes movement.
Compatibility	Generally peaceful but territorial from a young age. Some large specimens are aggressively territorial and may cause problems if housed with other large nocturnal fish.
Suggested Tankmates	The temptation with large tough Loricariids is to keep them with other large tough fish such as Oscars or other brutish characters. This actually works quite well with most omnivorous or mainly vegetarian plecos. Pseudacanthicus despite their defensive protection can be bullied by faster moving fish of similar size. They are carnivores and only eat vegetables when their preferred food is unavailable. The amount of waste produced depends on their diet but is considerably less than a Panaque or Pterygoplichthys of similar size.
Breeding	Unknown although almost certainly a cave / pipe spawner.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Zootaxa 4387 (no. 3), pp 500, Figs. 1-2, 3A-B.
Registered Keepers	There are 4 registered keepers, 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 7 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
Forum BBCode

	Search for P. major
	Look up P. major on AquaticRepublic.com
	Look up P. major on Fishbase
	Look up P. major on Encyclopedia of Life
	Look up P. major on Global Biodiversity Information Facility
	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.4.40.1023
Last Update	2025 Jan 01 12:08 (species record created: 2003 Apr 30 00:00)