Edit Hydrolycus armatus
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Name
Scientific name
Hydrolycus armatus
Described by
Authority Jardine, Year 1841, Bracketed
Family
Cynodontidae
Common names
Payara
Photograph credits
All 8 credited
Summary
The payara, Hydrolycus armatus, is a large, predatory dogtooth characin from the eastern Amazon, the Orinoco and the Essequibo in Guyana. G…
Size and aquarium
Maximum size
660mm, standard length
Aquarium size
Not recorded
Water
Water conditions
Temperature 24–28°C, pH 6–8
Hardness
2–15dGH
Conductivity
Not recorded
Behaviour
Temperament
Territorial
Social needs
Solitary or specimen
Community suitability
Not for a community
Where it lives
Countries, regions, rivers and lakes
Brazil, Guyana, Venezuela, Amazon, Caroní, Essequibo, Orinoco, Ventuari, Xingu
Writing
Etymology
Hydrolycus: from the Greek hydro, meaning 'water', and lykos, meaning 'wolf'. armatus: from the Latin armatus, meaning 'armour, armed or armoured', presumably …
Distribution
Type locality is 'sandbars in vicinity of Maipuri campsite, 4°34'N, 58°35'W, Essequibo River, Guyana', with current records suggesting it to occur in the easte…
Habitat
This species is pelagic and adults tend to be associated with flowing stretches of main river channels and larger tributaries of both white and black water riv…
Aquarium size
Suitable only for public installations or the very largest private aquaria.
Maintenance
Relatively unfussy and often maintained in completely bare set-ups. It does best if there is a high proportion of dissolved oxygen and moderate degree of water…
Water conditions
Not written yet
Diet
An obligate but generalised piscivore capable of consuming prey up to around half its own body size. Newly-imported specimens often refuse to accept anything b…
Behaviour and compatibility
This species is aggressive, especially towards conspecifics and similar-looking fishes, so is best-maintained alone or alongside large benthic fishes such as P…
Sexual dimorphism
Not written yet
Reproduction
Unrecorded.
Notes
H. armatus probably should not be considered a home aquarium subject at all given its eventual size and natural behaviour, and we know of only a handful of pri…
References
References
4 on this profile