Pterygoplichthys pardalis,Amazon Sailfin Catfish

Pterygoplichthys pardalis can be kept in a community aquarium as well as with predatory fish. They grow to about 40 to 50 centimetres long!

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Pterygoplichthys pardalis,Amazon Sailfin Catfish

Pterygoplichthys pardalis was first described in 1855 by Castlenau, then still as Hypostomus pardalis. A number of synonyms are now known, see the extra information.

In the L-number system, this species has the numbers L021 and L023. You can find an explanation of the L numbers here: L-Numbers and LDA-numbers? The explanation!

Description

In general, Pterygoplichthys pardalis is suitable for community aquariums as well as predatory fish tanks, as long as there is enough space (minimum 100-120 centimeters for young). Pterygoplichthys pardalis can be kept alone or (with reservation – see below) with several specimens.

Some specimens can have or develop a rather annoying and aggressive character. These fish can be quite territorial and rough, especially larger / older specimens, against similarly colored catfish and in case of insufficient space. It also regularly pulls plants from the ground, due to its size, and is able to defoliate an entire aquarium in a short time. It has even been observed to suck on injured or even healthy fish, causing serious injury or even death. Fortunately, these types of “degenerate” specimens are rare.

With a maximum length of about 40 to 50 centimeters, Pterygoplichthys pardalis is a very large fish and therefore needs some space.

Due to its relentless hunger, Pterygoplichthys pardalis is a significant producer of waste, and should therefore be kept in a particularly well-filtered aquarium.

The difference between males and females can be seen in the genital papilla. In males this is a small, blunt stump that clearly protrudes slightly from under the body. In females, this is less clearly present and is slightly flat on the body or is slightly recessed into the body.

Origin

South America: Widespread throughout the Rio Amazonas area, Brazil.

Diet

Pterygoplichthys pardalis is a seemingly eternally hungry fish, which, in addition to algae, eats practically anything that reaches the bottom: vegetables (lettuce, peas, spinach, cucumber, zucchini and eggplant), wafers (carnivorous, omnivorous, or herbivorous), and meaty food (shrimp, fish, white and black mosquito larvae, krill, etc etc).

The Aquarium

A generously sized aquarium with dim lighting, lots of driftwood (see food), and lots of decor (plants, stones) for shelter is ideal for this impressive, colorful, and potentially very large catfish. A young specimen can be temporarily kept in a smaller aquarium (as the only bottom dweller at least 60×30 centimeters. With several bottom dwellers at least 80×40 centimeters. But a full-grown animal needs at least an aquarium of 150 × 60 centimeters and a 200-centimeter aquarium if you want to keep more than one. They can be quite territorial and seriously injure other bottom dwellers.

This species does best in soft, slightly acidic to neutral water, abundant with oxygen and with a lot of current. A particularly powerful filtration system is indispensable, as this fish produces an enormous amount of waste due to its size and diet.

Video

Authors

Jonas Hansel – Piranha-info.com (original website no longer online)
John de Lange

Copyright images

Jonas Hansel – Piranha-info.com (original website no longer online)

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Additional information

Family

Genus

Species

pardalis

Synonym

Hypostomus pardalis, Liposarcus jeanesianus, Liposarcus pardalis, Liposarcus varius

First described by

Francois-Louis Laporte, Count of Castelnau

Character

Social behaviour

Diet

Min. aquarium length in cm

150

Origin

Country

,

ecosystem

Minimum length

40

Length maximum

50

Temperature minimum

21

Temperature maximum

26

pH minimum

6.0

pH maximum

7.5