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

Juvenile
Juvenile
Juvenile (4cm)
Juvenile
Juvenile
Dorsal view of sub-adult
Xanthic form
Stamp
Juvenile with deformed head

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Pseudoplatystoma tigrinum** (Valenciennes, 1840)
Common Names	Tiger Shovelnose Catfish Tsn (Abbreviation)
Type Locality	Brazil.
Synonym(s)	Platystoma punctatum, Platystoma tigrinum, Platystoma truncatum
Pronunciation	SUE doh plah tee stow mah
Etymology	(Greek)Pseudos=False +(Greek)platys=flat +(Greek)stoma=mouth.
Articles	- CotM 1998 March
Species Information
Size	1300mm or 51.2" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	Vertical to slightly oblique black stripes; often has spots, which are thicker on the ventral side; great variation in stripe 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 and Orinoco River basins. Amazon (click on these areas to find other species found there) Orinoco (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 2020.
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. I have personally witnessed one of the fish pictured above eat a large freshwater stingray head first! User data.
Furniture	Large secured pieces of bogwood and rock.
Compatibility	Will eat anything that isn't big enough to avoid being on the menu.
Suggested Tankmates	Other large catfish such as Oxydoras, Pterodoras and Megalodoras. Other fish should always be over half of its body length.
Breeding	Unknown
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Histoire naturelle des poissons v. 15, pp 10, Pl. 422.
Registered Keepers	There are 65 registered keepers, view all "my cats" data.
Wishlists	Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list. There is no wish to keep this species.
Spotters	Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars! There are 11 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
Forum BBCode

	Search for P. tigrinum
	Look up P. tigrinum on AquaticRepublic.com
	Look up P. tigrinum on Fishbase
	Look up P. tigrinum on Encyclopedia of Life
	Look up P. tigrinum on Global Biodiversity Information Facility
	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.15.116.329
Last Update	2025 Jan 02 01:37 (species record created: 2001 Apr 22 00:00)