Cat-eLog Right Arrow Pimelodidae Right Arrow Pseudoplatystoma

Jump to next section Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name Pseudoplatystoma punctifer  (Castelnau, 1855)
Common Name Spotted Tiger Shovelnose Catfish
Type Locality Parnahyba River, Teresina, state of Piauhy, Brazil
Synonym(s) Platystoma punctifer
Pronunciation SUE doh plah tee stow mah
Etymology (Greek)Pseudos=False +(Greek)platys=flat +(Greek)stoma=mouth. 
Jump to next section Species Information
Size 1100mm or 43.3" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Jump to next section Habitat Information
Distribution Orinoco River, Colombia and Venezuela.
Orinoco (click on these areas to find other species found there)

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Jump to next section Husbandry Information
Feeding Carnivore feeding on a very mixed and varied diet including earthworms, whole prawns, mussels, fish fillets, floating sticks/pellets and catfish pellets.
Furniture Large, spacious tank with open space for night time cruising. A large shady bogwood root or pipe that the catfish can retreat to during the day is also required. Ensure the heater is in the open and not in a place where the catfish may try and hide. When larger a hide is not necessary.
Compatibility Ideally suited to life with other large fish. These catfish are predatory and will eat smaller fish if hungry. Claimed by some to behave aggressively/territorially towards other catfish.
Suggested Tankmates Other large catfish such as Oxydoras, Pterodoras and Megalodoras. Other fish should always be over half of its body length.
Breeding Unreported.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Jump to next section Further Information
References Zootaxa 1512
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Last Update 2013 Jul 23 12:01 (species record created: 2009 May 04 05:19)