Megalancistrus parananus
L113
Formerly Pterygoplichthys parananus Peters, 1881 · Chaetostomus aculeatus Perugia, 1891 · Chaetostomus gigas Boulenger, 1895
Last revised 2026Edit this page
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Quick factsEdit
Difficulty5 of 8 measures
Rated difficult because it needs a tank at least 2 m long.
- Space
- very large tank
- Water
- flexible
- Temp
- flexible
- Diet
- unknown
- Temperament
- unknown
- Social
- fine alone
- Compatibility
- choose tankmates carefully
Other demands
Each of these can raise the rating on its own, whatever the measures above say.
- Hardiness
- unknown
- Needs a tank at least 2 m long
L113, Megalancistrus parananus, is a large suckermouth catfish from the rios Paraná, Paraguay and Uruguay in Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina. It was formerly thought to include L234, but only L113 appears native to these drainages, while L234 comes from the rio São Francisco. The largest recorded specimen measured 588 mm, and it can behave very aggressively in confined surroundings.
Etymology
EditMegalancistrus: from the Greek μέγας (mégas), meaning 'big, large, great', and the generic name Ancistrus.
parananus: named for the Río Paraná, type locality of the species.
Distribution
EditAquarium size
Write a noteEditSuitable only for public installations or the very largest private aquaria.
Water conditions
EditDiet
Write a noteEditIntestinal analyses of wild specimens have shown it to feed chiefly on freshwater sponges and other aquatic invertebrates alongside smaller quantities of wood, although it's unclear whether the latter is an essential part of the diet or ingested unintentionally while the fish are foraging.
In the aquarium it does best when offered a varied diet comprising sinking dried foods, frozen Daphnia, mosquito larvae, chironomid larvae (bloodworm), and prawn/shrimp, for, example, plus fresh fruit, parboiled potato, etc.
Home-made foods using a mixture of natural ingredients bound with gelatin are very useful since they can be tailored to contain fresh vegetables, Spirulina and meatier ingredients.
These recommendations come from this profile’s own figures. They contain affiliate links, so we may earn a commission.
Behaviour and compatibility
Write a noteEditCan behave very aggressively in confined surroundings and should only be maintained alongside similarly-sized, robust fishes in suitably-sized aquaria (see 'Aquarium Size').
Notes
EditThis species was formerly considered to be represented by the L-numbers L113 and L234 but it appears that only the former is native to the Paraná, Paraguay and Uruguay drainages, whereas L234 is collected in the rio São Francisco in eastern Brazil.
M. barrae and M. sp. 'LDA097' are also exported from the São Francisco system.
References
- Ferraris, C. J., Jr. (2007). Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa 1418, 1-628
- Reis, R. E., S. O. Kullander and C. J. Ferraris, Jr. (eds) (2003). Check list of the freshwater fishes of South and Central America. CLOFFSCA. EDIPUCRS, Porto Alegre, i-xi + 1-729
- Stawikowski, R., A. Werner and I. Seidel (2004). DATZ Special: L-Numbers. DATZ, 1-132
Species images · 1
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Also missing: aquarium size, habitat, maintenance, water condition notes, sexual dimorphism, reproduction.
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