Antennae Catfishes & relatives

It's debatable as to whether this species should be considered an aquarium subject at all, given its eventual size. All too often, juveniles are sold without adequate information regarding their long term care. These cats can and will attain something close to their maximum size in captivity, and will do so quite quickly. The myth that they will only grow to match the size of the tank they're kept in is just that. It's also worth noting that species such as this can live for well ...

Although this profile has been included for information purposes, we do not recommend keeping this species in the home unless you are one of the select few with the facilities available to house it for life. The aquarium dimensions quoted above should be considered an absolute minimum and in reality this fish requires a phenomenal volume of water if it is to be housed long term. Unfortunately, the price of red-tails has fallen considerably in recent years and "kittens" are readily a...

This species is also known by the vernacular names "Hockey Stick Catfish", "Lima Shovelnose", "Chiripira", "Chucharón" and "Pico de pato". The genus Sorubim currently contains five recognised species. Of the others S. cuspicaudus is recorded from the parts of the Rio Essequibo, Rio Orinoco, Amazon and Lake Maracaibo basins, S. elongatus from the Rio Essequibo, Rio Orinoco Rio Mamore and Amazon and S. maniradii from the mid-to-upper Amaz...

This species is sometimes confused with B. juruense, especially when juvenile, but can be told apart quite easily by it's more well-defined colour pattern, relatively slender body shape and longer barbels. It was described in the genus Meredontotus, but is currently included in Brachyplatystoma based on a pair of synapomorphies shared by memb...

Several Brachyrhamdia species have developed colour patterns that mimic syntopically-occurring Corydoras spp. throughout the life-cycle, and the remainder, including B. meesi, may mimic Otocinclus or smaller Corydoras spp. when juvenile. They're easily told apart from Corydoras by their significantly longer barbels and lack of scute-like plates on the body.

Several Brachyrhamdia species have developed colour patterns that mimic syntopically-occurring Corydoras spp. throughout the life-cycle, and the remainder may mimic Otocinclus or smaller Corydoras spp. when juvenile. Among other catfishes they're closely-related to members of the genus Pimelodella, but differ in...

Also known as the painted, saddle or marbled sailfin catfish, it's debatable as to whether this species should be considered an aquarium subject at all given its eventual size. All too often, juveniles are sold without adequate information regarding their long term care. These cats can and will attain something close to their maximum size in captivity, and will do so quite quickly. The myth that they will only grow to match the size of the tank they're kept in is just that. It's a...

There are currently 32 genera and over 80 species included in the family Pimelodidae (including Pimelodus), making it the second largest and one of the most diverse amongst catfish. Most experts agree however, that a full systematic revision of the family is needed, as little information about the phylogenetic (evolutionary relatedness) relationships between the various genera exists. Taxonomy information at the species level is also basic at best. It's therefore likely that at least some o...

There are currently 32 genera and over 80 species included in the family Pimelodidae (including Pimelodus), making it the second largest and one of the most diverse amongst catfish. However most experts agree that a full systematic revision of the family is needed, as little information about the phylogenetic (evolutionary relatedness) relationships between the various genera exists. Taxonomy information at the species level is also basic at best. It's therefore likely that at least some of...

This species can be told apart from the very similar-looking congener B. filamentosum by its smaller adult size (B. filamentosum can grow to almost 3 m in length), shorter maxillary barbels (never extending beyond base of adipose fin (vs. extending beyond base of adipose fin), moderately-forked with lobes of equal size (vs. deeply-forked caudal fin with upper lobe usually longer than the lower) and body col...

In the Amazon region it is only specimens larger than around 160 cm and werighing in excess of 50 kg that are referred to as 'Piraíba' with the name 'filhote' normally applied to smaller individuals. Other vernacular names include 'Salton catfish', 'Kumakuma'; and 'tiger antenna catfish'; with members of the genus often referred to collectively as 'goliath catfishes'.

Brachyplatystoma spp. are distinguished from all other catfishes by two synapomorphies. The first comprises several morphological characters relating to the skull, specifically that the mandibular suspensorium (that which connects the lower jaw bone to the skull) is greatly expanded mediodorsally to form a large plate approaching the parasphenoid bone, with the hyomandibula and metapterygoid similarly enlarged.

Found in a number of habitat-types, though rarely in smaller tributaries, generally preferring deeper, flowing channels through which it travels for considerable distances at certain times of year. Like other large, migratory pimelodids these movements are typically associated with nutrient-rich, white water drainages rather than nutrient-poor black waters.

Study of B. rousseauxii has revealed that sexually mature adults are found only in the western Amazon, with no mature individual ever recorded east of Manaus despite the intensive commercial fishery operating there. The total distance covered by some populations during migration from the delta was as much as 5500 km, making it the longest known in any freshwater fish species.

This rich feeding ground is exploited until the sea water returns, at which point the catfishes begin to migrate upstream in massive numbers, moving up the Amazon and its tributaries. Sexually mature individuals are not normally recorded during these events so they're thought related to feeding and dispersal rather than spawning. The fish are subject to intensive capture by commercial and artisanal fishing operations during this upstream movement.

It's debatable as to whether this species should be considered an aquarium subject at all, given its eventual size. All too often juveniles are sold without adequate information regarding their long term care. These cats can and will attain something close to their maximum size in captivity, and will do so quite quickly. The myth that they will only grow to match the size of the tank they're kept in is just that - a myth. It's also worth noting that species such as this can live f...

It's debatable as to whether this species should be considered an aquarium subject at all, given its eventual size. All too often juveniles are sold without adequate information regarding their long term care. These cats can and will attain something close to their maximum size in captivity, and will do so quite quickly. The myth that they will only grow to match the size of the tank they're kept in is just that - a myth. It's also worth noting that species such as this can live f...

An obligate predator feeding on other fishes in nature, but quality dried foods are normally accepted in captivity. It should also be offered meaty fare such as strips of white fish, live earthworms, shrimp, etc., for optimum health.

Pseudopimelodus bufonius

There are currently 32 genera included in the family Pimelodidae (including Pimelodus), making it the second largest and one of the most diverse amongst catfish. However most experts agree that a full systematic revision of the family is needed, as little information about the phylogenetic (evolutionary relatedness) relationships between the various genera exists. Taxonomy information at the species level is also basic at best. It's therefore likely that at least some of the Pimelodids will...