From Peru we have received some specimens of this very rarely imported catfish. The animals are in top condition and currently 10 – 12 cm long. Brachyplatystoma platynemum used to be placed in a separate genus, Goslinia, which is now a synonym for Brachyplatystoma. B. platynemum is distributed throughout the Amazon and Orinoco region and grows to about 1 m long in the Amazon, while the largest known B. platynemum from the Orinoco even measured 117 cm. As it is a popular food fish, one is well informed about average sizes. Males usually grow to about 65 cm and females to about 75 cm.
The special feature of this predatory catfish are the flattened barbels (platys = broad, nema = thread), which the fish always orientate perpendicular to the water current. They are lurking hunters, which usually rest on the large pelvic fins and hunt for prey fish of suitable size with their head pointing upwards and against the current. Like most predatory catfish, they are largely indifferent to each other and are also peaceful towards other fish that are not suitable as food. As a white water inhabitant B. platynemum does not make any noteworthy demands on the water composition, any common tap water is well suited for maintenance. The water temperature should be in the range of 24 to 28°C, but occasionally the fish tolerate higher or lower temperatures well.
For our customers: the fish have code 254782 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
