PlanetCatfish.com - Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum (Pimelodidae) Cat-eLog

From Paraguay
Stamp
Close-up of head
From Paraguay
Juvenile
Dorsal view

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum** (Linnaeus, 1766)
Common Names	Tiger Shovelnose Catfish Båndet Spademalle (Denmark), Barred Sorubim, Surubi Atigrado (Argentinian), Tigerspatelwels (Germany), Tsn (Abbreviation)
Type Locality	Mazaruni-Potaro tributaries of Essequibo River, Guyanas, 5°31'39.5"N, 58°37'43.6"W.
Synonym(s)	Platystoma artedii, Platystoma fasciatum, Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum brevifile, Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum fasciatum, Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum intermedium, Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum nigricans, Silurus fasciatus
Pronunciation	SUE doh plah tee stow mah
Etymology	(Greek)Pseudos=False +(Greek)platys=flat +(Greek)stoma=mouth.
Species Information
Size	1040mm or 40.9" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	Vertical to slightly oblique black stripes which are joined together in ''y'' shapes over the fishes back; often has spots, which are thicker on the ventral side; great variation in stripes and spot patterns. Eigenmann recognized at least 14 varieties or subspecies based on colour patterns; easily confused with other members of the genus.
Sexing	Unknown
Habitat Information
Distribution	South America: Amazon, Corintijns, Essequibo, Orinoco and Paraná River basins. Amazon (click on these areas to find other species found there) Guyana Waters, Coastal Rivers of Guyanas, Suriname Coastal Rivers, Corintijns (click on these areas to find other species found there) Orinoco (click on these areas to find other species found there) Guyana Waters, Coastal Rivers of Guyanas, Essequibo (click on these areas to find other species found there) La Plata, Paraná (click on these areas to find other species found there) Login to view the map.
IUCN Red List Category	Least Concern , range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2021.
pH	6.0 - 7.6
Temperature	22.0-26.0°C or 71.6-78.8°F (Show species within this range)
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Fish, crustaceans and literally anything that it finds tasty and small enough to eat. User data.
Furniture	Large secured pieces of bogwood and rock. You know this fish is in an properly sized tank when it will cruise the mid-water area looking for food when hungry. They don't do this in cramped conditions.
Compatibility	Will eat anything that isn't big enough to avoid being on the menu. Not recommended for the home aquarium.
Suggested Tankmates	Very large characins and cichlids. Pacu are the safest option.
Breeding	Unreported in captivity although is commercially bred via egg stripping method which is often the source of fishes entering aquarium trade.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Systema naturae sive regna tria naturae v. 1 (pt 1), pp 505.
Registered Keepers	There are 26 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 8 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.15.116.328
Last Update	2025 Jan 02 01:38 (species record created: 2001 Apr 22 00:00)