Edit Acestrorhynchus falcatus

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Name

Scientific name

Acestrorhynchus falcatus

Described by

Authority Bloch, Year 1794, Bracketed

Family

Acestrorhynchidae

Common names

Red-Tailed Freshwater Barracuda, Redtail Barracuda Tetra, Redtail Cachorro, Zweitupfen-Hundssalmler

Photograph credits

All 6 credited

Summary

The red-tailed freshwater barracuda, Acestrorhynchus falcatus, is a predatory acestrorhynchid from the northern Amazon and Orinoco basins. …

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

275mm, standard length

Aquarium size

Minimum length 250 cm, Minimum depth 90 cm

Water

Water conditions

Temperature 22–28°C, pH 6–7.5

Hardness

1–12dGH

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Predatory

Community suitability

Not recorded

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela, Amazon, Corantijn, Courantyne, Negro, Orinoco, Purus, Solimões, Tocantins, Yavarí

Writing

Etymology

Acestrorhynchus: from the Greek akéstra (Gr. ἀκέστρα), meaning 'darning needle' and rhýnchos (Gr. ῥύγχος), meaning 'snout', in reference to the presence of sha…

Distribution

The type locality is given simply as 'Suriname' but this species is widely distributed throughout northern drainages of the Amazon in Peru and Brazil plus the …

Habitat

Inhabits major river channels and tributaries and said to show a preference for clear and black water environments as opposed to turbid 'white' waters. It occu…

Aquarium size

Acestrorhynchids are typically very active and extremely fast swimmers so minimum base dimensions in the region of 250 ∗ 90 cm are required for long-term care.…

Maintenance

This species is a near-exclusive inhabitant of open water and an excess of cover can actually stress it meaning, substrate aside, the majority of the tank shou…

Water conditions

Not written yet

Diet

An obligate piscivore capable of consuming quite large prey in relation to its body size. Newly-imported specimens may refuse to accept anything but live fishe…

An obligate piscivore capable of consuming quite large prey in relation to its body size.

Newly-imported specimens may refuse to accept anything but live fishes although most can be weaned onto dead alternatives once they recognise them as edible, and some even learn to accept dried foods.

Like the vast majority of predatory fishes this species should not be fed mammalian or avian meat such as beef heart or chicken.

Some of the lipids contained in these cannot be properly metabolised by the fish and may cause excess fat deposits and even organ degeneration.

Similarly there is no benefit in the use of 'feeder' fish such as livebearers or small goldfish which carry with them the risk of parasite or disease introduction and at any rate tend not have a high nutritional value unless properly conditioned beforehand.

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Where does this come from?

My own experienceFor example, I've kept twelve in a planted 60 cm tank since March 2024.A website I sawFor example, an IUCN Red List assessment, a museum catalogue or a FishBase page.A paperFor example, Marshall et al. (2011), Water temperature differences in interfluvial palm swamp habitats of Paracheirodon axelrodi and P. simulans.A book, or something not onlineFor example, Tappin (2010), Rainbowfishes: their care and keeping in captivity.Something already on the pageFor example, the Behaviour and compatibility section already says this.

Web address

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DOI

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Title

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Authors

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Year

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Pages

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Anything worth adding

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Behaviour and compatibility

Relatively peaceful with anything too large to swallow and can be maintained in a community provided tankmates are chosen with care. Aggressively territorial o…

Sexual dimorphism

Sexually mature females tend to grow a little larger and be deeper-bodied than males.

Reproduction

Apparently courtship and even spawning have been observed in aquaria but no fry raised. Reports suggest that spawning occurs in midwater with the female remain…

Notes

The vernacular name of this fish is derived from its appearance and behaviour, rather than a genetic association with the marine barracuda, and it's also somet…

References

6 on this profile

Name

Scientific name

Described by

Family

Common names

Photograph credits

Summary

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

Aquarium size

Water

Water conditions

Hardness

Conductivity

Behaviour

Temperament

Social needs

Community suitability

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Writing

Etymology

Distribution

Habitat

Aquarium size

Maintenance

Water conditions

Diet

Behaviour and compatibility

Sexual dimorphism

Reproduction

Notes

References

References