All FishesLoricariidaeHypostominaePseudacanthicus  |  | 

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Scientific Name Pseudacanthicus pitanga  Chamon, 2015
Common Names L024, Red Fin Cactus Pleco
LDA118, Flame Pleco, Oliven Kaktussugemalle (Denmark)
Type Locality Serra dos Carajás, bedrock at rio Itacaiunas, Serra dos Carajás, Pará, Brazil, 05032'00"W, 0552'00"S.
Pronunciation SUE dah KAN thi cuss
Etymology Pseud- Greek: False, Acanthicus - Greek: Spiny, Thorny. Literally "False Acanthicus" referring to this genus being similar to, yet different from, Acanthicus. The specific epithet comes from the Tupi-Guarani word for red, in reference to the color of the fins.
Hop to next section Species Information
Size 340mm or 13.4" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification The German common name for this genus is ''Cactus Pleco''. A good name! Pseudacanthicus is a member of the Acanthicus clade. Species of the Acanthicus clade are distinguished from other Loricariidae species by the presence of (1) longitudinal rows of keels (pointed odontodes) along the body sides; (2) eight or more dorsal-fin rays (vs. six or seven in most other loricariids except Pterygoplichthys, Chaetostoma, Pogonopoma and Pseudancistrus pectegenitor); (3) seven to eight infraorbitals (vs. usually five or six); (4) five anal-fin branched rays (vs. usually four); and (5) presence of hypertrophied odontodes along the snout margin (vs. hypertrophied odontodes absent in other loricariids except Isbrueckerichthys and Pareiorhaphis, in Neoplecostominae; Panaque and Pseudancistrus and Neblinichthys, in Ancistrini; and most dimorphic males of Loricariinae). Within the Acanthicus group, Pseudacanthicus is distinguished by the presence of two small plates in the posterior area of the compound pterotic (vs. one median plate or plate absent), and by the presence of narrow premaxillae with a small number of elongate and curved teeth (except from Leporacanthicus).

Similar to L025 (Pseudacanthicus pirarara) but ultimately smaller with a less contrasting overall colouration making it drabber in appearance. The colour form LDA118 looks very similar to L024 (Pseudacanthicus pitanga). It is found in the upper reaches of the Rio Itacaiüna which shares a rainy season floodplain with the upper reaches of the Rio Frisco, which is a tributary of Rio Xingu. From the Rio Xingu comes ), while L24 comes from the Rio Tocantins.
Sexing Mature males have considerably more odontodal growth on most fins rays but the pectorals are most adorned. Females fill out quite considerably in relation to the slender males.
Hop to next section Habitat Information
Distribution South America: Brazil: Rio Tocantins
Amazon, Lower Amazon, Tocantins (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Amazon, Lower Amazon, Tocantins, Itacaiúnas (click on these areas to find other species found there)

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IUCN Red List Category Not Evaluated
Temperature 23.0-27.0°C or 73.4-80.6°F (Show species within this range)
Hop to next section Husbandry Information
Feeding Carnivore although not a predator, prawns and chopped mussel appear favourites and promote favourable growth. Some vegetable should also be provided and thus balances diet. User data.
Furniture Not as shy as some members of the genus although a shady retreat should be provided.
Compatibility Generally peaceful but territorial from a young age. Some large specimens are aggressively territorial and may cause problems if housed with other large nocturnal fish.
Suggested Tankmates The temptation with large tough Loricariids is to keep them with large, tough other fish such as Oscars or other brutish characters. This actually works quite well with most omnivorous or mainly vegetarian plecos. Pseudacanthicus however are big messy carnivores, but, like all large plecos, produce vast amounts of waste and as such would require monumental filtration to house alongside non-catfish ''equals''. It is better to think of these catfish as the centerpiece fish and stock their aquarium with medium sized (preferably omnivorous) fish. All sizes of barbs work surprisingly well.
Breeding Unknown but almost certainly a cave / pipe spawner.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Hop to next section Further Information
Reference Zootaxa 3973 (no. 2), pp 310, Figs. 1-3.
Registered Keepers There is no registered keeper.
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Last Update 2022 Oct 03 01:43 (species record created: 2001 May 05 00:00)