Edit Megalodoras uranoscopus
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Name
Scientific name
Megalodoras uranoscopus
Described by
Not recorded
Family
Doradidae
Common names
Giant Raphael Catfish
Photograph credits
All 1 credited
Summary
The giant Raphael catfish, Megalodoras uranoscopus, is a large doradid recorded from the Essequibo, Tocantins and Amazon river systems. It …
Size and aquarium
Maximum size
700mm, standard length
Aquarium size
Minimum length 240 cm, Minimum depth 120 cm
Water
Water conditions
21.1–25°C
Hardness
1–20dGH
Conductivity
Not recorded
Behaviour
Temperament
Peaceful
Social needs
A shoal or group
Community suitability
Not recorded
Where it lives
Countries, regions, rivers and lakes
Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Amazon, Tocantins
Writing
Etymology
Not written yet
Distribution
Recorded from the rios Essequibo, Tocantins and Amazon in the countries of Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, Brazil, Bolivia and Guyana. Type locality is Lake Hyanuary,…
Habitat
Supposedly found in slow-moving and standing waters including tributaries, creeks and swamps where it's usually found sheltering among roots or submerged veget…
Aquarium size
This species is gregarious meaning an aquarium with base dimensions of 240 ∗ 120 cm should be the bare minimum considered, but in reality this species is suita…
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
Temperature: 21.1 – 25 °C pH: 5.5 - 7.5 Hardness: 1 - 20°H
Diet
An omnivore feeding chiefly on aquatic gastropods and the fallen fruits of terrestrial plants in nature with its rumoured fondness for snails having led to it …
Behaviour and compatibility
Very peaceful and in suitably sized systems it can be combined with many other species. Potential tankmates include characids such as Metynnis or Myleus spp., …
Sexual dimorphism
Adult females appear larger and heavier-bodied than males, and the genital papillae differ in structure.
Reproduction
Undergoes extensive seasonal migrations which appear to relate directly to the reproductive cycle, and has never been bred in captivity.
Notes
This species is also known by the vernacular name "ripsaw catfish" (U.S.) and was often referred to by the scientific name M. irwini, now considered a junior s…
References
References
No references