Edit Brachyplatystoma vaillantii
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Name
Scientific name
Brachyplatystoma vaillantii
Described by
Authority Valenciennes, Year 1840, Bracketed
Family
Pimelodidae
Common names
Piramutaba
Photograph credits
All 4 credited
Summary
The piramutaba, Brachyplatystoma vaillantii, is a large migratory pimelodid catfish from the Amazon and Orinoco watersheds and rivers of th…
Size and aquarium
Maximum size
1050mm, standard length
Aquarium size
Not recorded
Water
Water conditions
Temperature 22–28°C, pH 6–8
Hardness
1–20dGH
Conductivity
Not recorded
Behaviour
Temperament
Not recorded
Social needs
Solitary or specimen
Community suitability
Not for a community
Where it lives
Countries, regions, rivers and lakes
Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela, Amazon, Corantijn, Courantyne, Içá, Japurá, Madeira, Napo, Orinoco, Purus, Solimões
Writing
Etymology
Not written yet
Distribution
Valenciennes states that the type series derived from Cayenne, the capital of French Guiana, and Suriname but the species is currently understood to range thro…
Habitat
Found in a number of habitat-types, though rarely in smaller tributaries, generally preferring deeper, flowing channels through which it travels for considerab…
Aquarium size
This species is suitable only for public aquaria plus a very small minority of private aquarists and as such we offer no recommended aquarium size.
Maintenance
The choice of décor is as much down to personal preference as anything else though a carefully-aquascaped, planted set-up is obviously out of the question. A s…
Water conditions
Not written yet
Diet
Almost entirely piscivorous preying on loricariids and other bottom-dwelling fishes in nature but most specimens readily adapt to dead alternatives such as pra…
Behaviour and compatibility
Only keep with species large enough to avoid predation.
Sexual dimorphism
Unknown.
Reproduction
Unrecorded in captivity, perhaps unsurprising given its complex natural life cycle (see 'habitat').
Notes
This species can be distinguished from congeners by the following external characters: colour pattern in both adults and juveniles strongly but gradually count…
References
References
5 on this profile