All FishesPimelodidaePseudoplatystoma  |  | 

Hop to next section All Fishes Data Sheet
Scientific Name Pseudoplatystoma tigrinum  (Valenciennes, 1840)
Common Names Tiger Shovelnose Catfish
Tsn (Abbreviation)
Type Locality Brazil.
Synonym(s) Platystoma tigrinum
Pronunciation SUE doh plah tee stow mah
Etymology (Greek)Pseudos=False +(Greek)platys=flat +(Greek)stoma=mouth. 
Hop to next section Species Information
Size 1300mm or 51.2" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification Vertical to slightly oblique black stripes; often has spots, which are thicker on the ventral side; great variation in stripe and spot patterns. Eigenmann recognized at least 14 varieties or subspecies based on colour patterns; easily confused with other members of the genus.
Sexing Unknown
Hop to next section Habitat Information
Distribution South America: Amazon and Orinoco River basins.
Amazon (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Orinoco (click on these areas to find other species found there)

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IUCN Red List Category Least Concern, range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2020.
pH 6.0 - 7.6
Temperature 22.0-26.0°C or 71.6-78.8°F (Show species within this range)
Hop to next section Husbandry Information
Feeding Fish, crustaceans and literally anything that it finds tasty and small enough to eat. I have personally witnessed one of the fish pictured above eat a large freshwater stingray head first! User data.
Furniture Large secured pieces of bogwood and rock.
Compatibility Will eat anything that isn't big enough to avoid being on the menu.
Suggested Tankmates Other large catfish such as Oxydoras, Pterodoras and Megalodoras. Other fish should always be over half of its body length.
Breeding Unknown
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Hop to next section Further Information
Reference Histoire naturelle des poissons v. 15, pp 10, Pl. 422.
Registered Keepers There is no registered keeper.
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There are 7 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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Last Update 2020 Sep 19 01:47 (species record created: 2001 Apr 22 00:00)