AquaticRepublic.com - Platystacus cotylephorus (Aspredinidae) All Fishes

Dorsal view
Close-up of rows of tubercules on tail
Head-on view
Male
Close-up of ventral view
Close-up of head
Female
Male
Female carrying egg
Close-up of head
Super close-up of embryo
Close-up of female and egg
Eggs attached to underside of parent
Habitat: Essequibo river, Guyana
Habitat
Newly hatched fry
Ten day old fry

All Fishes Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Platystacus cotylephorus** Bloch, 1794
Common Names	Eel-tail Banjo Catfish Banded Banjo, Båndet Banjomalle (Denmark), Maulbruetender Hexenwels (Germany), Mottled Eel-tail Banjo Catfish, Whiptail Banjo Catfish
Type Locality	No locality.
Synonym(s)	Aspredo cotylephorus, Cotylephorus blochii, Silurus hexadactylus
Pronunciation	plat ee STAK uss - coat ee LEFF or uss
Etymology	Platystacus: From the Greek platys, meaning broad or flat and the Latin acus, meaning needle; in reference to the shape. Cotylephorus: meaning sites for the attachment of developing embryos, which in this case refers to the ventral area.
Species Information
Size	318mm or 12.5" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	The fishes mottled colouration is very variable - almost to the point of no two individuals looking exactly the same.
Sexing	Females appear more brown than black with very little or no mottling. Males by contrast are darker and show high contrast mottling. Mature males have larger pectoral fins than equally aged females.
General Remarks	This species is able to produce bark-like sounds by quickly moving the pectorals. These sounds are probably used to locate each other during mating periods and certainly when being attacked.
Habitat Information
Distribution	Central and South America: Venezuela to northern Brazil (including the lower portions of coastal rivers). Atlantic, Western Central Atlantic (click on these areas to find other species found there) Log in to view data on a map.
IUCN Red List Category	Least Concern, range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2020.
pH	6.0 - 8.2
Temperature	22.0-25.0°C or 71.6-77°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters	Although the fish tolerates lower, the fish should really be kept at as near to a neutral pH as possible. Water should be medium hard.
Husbandry Information
Feeding	A nocturnal scavenger. Will eat most food after lights our. Can be tempted to eat frozen foods during the day. User data.
Furniture	A large sandy bottom with leaf cover is ideal, fish of all ages will bury in the sand. Larger fish will bury in gravel.
Compatibility	Will eat small fish and shrimps but otherwise entirely docile.
Suggested Tankmates	Small to medium sized hardy, preferably Amazon, fish that do not mind the higher pH and hardness this species prefers. Care should be taken to avoid fish that will pick away at the unmoving partly buried catfish.
Breeding	Not reported in the home aquarium, but evidence exists of the method of reproduction. See catfish of the month article.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Naturgeschichte der ausländischen Fische v. 8, pp 54, Pl. 372.
Registered Keepers	There is but a single registered keeper, view all "my fish" data.
Wishlists	Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list. There is no wish to keep this species.
Spotters	Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars! There are 6 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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	Look up P. cotylephorus on PlanetCatfish.com
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	Look up P. cotylephorus on Encyclopedia of Life
	Look up P. cotylephorus on Global Biodiversity Information Facility
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Last Update	2020 Oct 23 04:10 (species record created: 2001 Apr 13 00:00)