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Rio Carinhanha

All Fishes Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Hypostomus margaritifer** (Regan, 1908)
Common Names	Yellow Spotted Hypostomus Gelbgepunkteter Hypostomus (Germany)
Type Locality	Rio Piracicaba, San Paulo, Brazil.
Synonym(s)	Hypostomus butantanis, Plecostomus margaritifer, Plecostomus margaritifer butantanis
Pronunciation	hi POSS tow muss - mar gar IT if err
Etymology	Greek, hypo = under + Greek, stoma = mouth.
Species Information
Size	330mm or 13" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	Very similar to H. regani from the same river. H. margaritifer is deeper bodied and generally more chunky.
Sexing	Unknown although examination of the genital area in a group of large adults should show differences.
Habitat Information
Distribution	South America: Upper and middle Paraná River basin. La Plata, Paraná, Upper Paraná (click on these areas to find other species found there) La Plata, Paraná, Middle Paraná (click on these areas to find other species found there) La Plata, Paraná, Upper Paraná, Tietê, Piracicaba (São Paulo) (click on these areas to find other species found there) São Francisco, Middle São Francisco, Carinhanha (click on these areas to find other species found there) Login to view the map.
IUCN Red List Category	Least Concern , range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2018.
pH	6.0 - 7.6
Temperature	24.0-27.0°C or 75.2-80.6°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters	Slightly soft water is preferable.
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Most greens are accepted (cucumber and courgette / zucchini seem favourite), but this fish loves to chew on dead fish and will accept most sinking foods once acclimatized. User data.
Furniture	Plants must be well rooted and protected by rock work to avoid accidental up-rooting. Rocks and Bogwood do well, especially large rounded rock. This fish is equally happy on sand or large pea-shaped substrate.
Compatibility	As with most large Loricariids, this is a territorial but otherwise peaceful fish. It can be mixed with small fish more easily than other large catfish. Once an appropriate size, will withstand the rigours of an American Cichlid tank.
Suggested Tankmates	Anything from tetras to large cichlids, preferably South American, but will mix with all sizes of community fish - be careful adding it with other large catfish that everyone has room to grow.
Breeding	Unknown - a real challenge!
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1907 (pt 4), pp 796, Pl. 47 (fig. 2).
Registered Keepers	There is no registered keeper.
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.
Forum BBCode

	Look up H. margaritifer on PlanetCatfish.com
	Look up H. margaritifer on Fishbase
	Look up H. margaritifer on Encyclopedia of Life
	Look up H. margaritifer on Global Biodiversity Information Facility
	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.4.17.528
Last Update	2025 Jan 01 12:04 (species record created: 2002 Feb 25 00:00)