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
Social needs
Not recorded
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…
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
References
6 on this profile