All FishesPimelodidaePseudoplatystoma  |  | 

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Scientific Name Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum  (Linnaeus, 1766)
Common Names Tiger Shovelnose Catfish
Båndet Spademalle (Denmark), Barred Sorubim, Surubi Atigrado (Argentinian), Tigerspatelwels (Germany), Tsn (Abbreviation)
Type Locality Mazaruni-Potaro tributaries of Essequibo River, Guyanas, 5°31'39.5"N, 58°37'43.6"W.
Synonym(s) Platystoma artedii, Silurus fasciatus
Pronunciation SUE doh plah tee stow mah
Etymology (Greek)Pseudos=False +(Greek)platys=flat +(Greek)stoma=mouth. 
Hop to next section Species Information
Size 1040mm or 40.9" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification Vertical to slightly oblique black stripes which are joined together in ''y'' shapes over the fishes back; often has spots, which are thicker on the ventral side; great variation in stripes 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, Corintijns, Essequibo, Orinoco and Paraná River basins.
Amazon (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Guyana Waters, Coastal Rivers of Guyanas, Suriname Coastal Rivers, Corintijns (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Orinoco (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Guyana Waters, Coastal Rivers of Guyanas, Essequibo (click on these areas to find other species found there)
La Plata, Paraná (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 2021.
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. User data.
Furniture Large secured pieces of bogwood and rock. You know this fish is in an properly sized tank when it will cruise the mid-water area looking for food when hungry. They don't do this in cramped conditions.
Compatibility Will eat anything that isn't big enough to avoid being on the menu. Not recommended for the home aquarium.
Suggested Tankmates Very large characins and cichlids. Pacu are the safest option.
Breeding Unreported in captivity although is commercially bred via egg stripping method which is often the source of fishes entering aquarium trade.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Hop to next section Further Information
Reference Systema naturae sive regna tria naturae v. 1 (pt 1), pp 505.
Registered Keepers There is no registered keeper.
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There is no wish to keep this species.
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There are 5 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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Last Update 2020 Nov 08 05:12 (species record created: 2001 Apr 22 00:00)