Order Siluriformes
Family Pimelodidae, or Long-whiskered Catfishes ( Pimelodidae )
Pimelodids are catfishes of various sizes and shapes, possessing three pairs of barbels (two of which are mental). Mostly nocturnal fish, many are aggressive and unsociable, some view small fish as food. They damage delicate plants. Since all flathead catfishes happily eat meat (the food “sizes” must match the size and age of the fish), in a community aquarium, during nocturnal foraging, larger species can do more harm than smaller ones.
Keep only with large fish. Males are smaller, brighter, and more slender. Most of them have long barbels, which makes them interesting to many aquarists. The body is usually silvery, covered with a pattern typical of the species. They live 5-15 years. Water temperature 22-26°C and if possible no higher.
Genus Aguarunichthys.
— Aguarunichthys torosus [Stewart, 1986]. (Eng. Jello Band Catfish). Peru, Amazon River basin. 35 cm. On a light body background, they have a characteristic thin pattern of black dots. A light stripe runs at an angle from the beginning of the dorsal fin to the beginning of the pectoral and pelvic fins. Juveniles are brighter, but like adults, they already have typical spotting. Keeping them requires a very large aquarium, and since it is a predator, tank mates must be large.
Young catfishes move around the aquarium, but as they grow older, they hide in shelters and come out only at night. This catfish is a bold fighter, can be kept with cichlids, for example, Astronotus ocellatus. Bottom-dwelling fish cannot be kept with them, because it considers the entire territory of the aquarium its own. They happily hunt small fish. Does not dig in the substrate. Powerful filtration, weekly water changes, increased oxygen flow. pH 5.8-7.2; T 22-27°C.
Genus Brachyplatystoma.
— Tiger Striped Catfish, Zebra Shovelnose — Brachyplatystoma tigrinum [Britzki, 1981]. (Eng. Tiger Striped Catfish, Zebra Shovelnose). Synonym: Merodontotus tigrinus. Colombia, Brazil, upper Amazon basin, Madeira River, Caquetá. In the aquarium no more than 45 cm. Head large, with an elongated rostrum. Mouth large, with thick lips. Upper jaw longer, blunt. The head of this catfish somewhat resembles that of a horse. Barbels are long.
The body is gray or pale cream, the back somewhat darker. The upper part of the head is dark gray and has no stripes. Narrow dark vertical inclined stripes run from the back almost to the belly, sometimes breaking up into spots. There are no stripes on the head and up to the dorsal fin. Most fins are striped, of the same color as the body of this catfish.
The caudal fin has vertical stripes and ends in long filaments. In juveniles, the stripes consist of a series of spots that widen with age. Often confused with B. juruense, especially juveniles, but can be distinguished by a relatively slender body shape, zigzag stripes, and large barbels reaching the dorsal fin.
Predatory, predominantly nocturnal species. They hunt using sensitive barbels in murky water and at night, hiding among plants where their coloration perfectly camouflages them. Territorial among their own species and other large catfishes. Aquarium volume from 400 liters. Dimly lit tank with plenty of open space. Tank mates – only large fish, smaller fish will be eaten.
Shelters made of stones and roots are necessary, the substrate must be soft. The water must be impeccably clean and have a high proportion of dissolved oxygen. Powerful filtration and aeration, weekly water changes. Since these are predatory catfishes, they prefer meaty products such as whole shrimp, mussels, pieces of fish, worms, etc. Adult fish are fed once a week. dH up to 20°; pH 6.5-7.5; T 22-26°C.
More catfishes from the genus:— Brachyplatystoma capapretum (Lundberg & Akama, 2005). 58 cm; — Brachyplatystoma juruense (Boulenger, 1898). 60 cm; — Brachyplatystoma platynemum (Boulenger, 1898). 100 cm; — Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii (Castelnau, 1855). 100 cm; — Brachyplatystoma vaillantii (Valenciennes, 1840). 100 cm;
Identification: Genus Brachyplatystoma.
Genus Calophysus.
— Vulture Catfish — Calophysus macropterus [Lichtenstein, 1819]. (Eng. Vulture Catfish). Synonyms: Pimeletropsis lateralis, Pimelodus ctenodus, macropterus. Northern regions of South America, Amazon River. 40 cm. The upper barbels are very long and extend backward to the end of the caudal fin. On its long silvery-gray body, there are numerous diverse irregular dark spots and flecks. With age, a magnificent bluish sheen appears. Likes to lie resting on its pelvic fins and raising the upper part of its body.
Minimum aquarium volume 500 liters. It is better to keep them separately in a species tank; when young, 2-3 fish can be kept. It is necessary to provide a sufficient swimming area. In motion, with its dorsal fin raised, its thin, graceful body resembles a shark. In the back of the aquarium, install stone structures, fancy driftwood, and long-stemmed plants to create shelters. Needs plenty of oxygen.
Hides during the day, most active at dawn. Does not dig in the substrate, so plants will not be damaged if firmly fixed, as they can be uprooted by accidental restless movements. The species is not picky in its choice of food and, besides live foods, willingly takes shrimp or fish fillets, even sticks or pellets. Temperature 24°C.
Genus Hemisorubim.
— Hemisorubim — Hemisorubim platyrhynchos [Valenciennes, 1840]. (Eng. Spotted Shovelnose Catfish). Synonym: Platystoma platyrhynchos. Suriname, Venezuela (Orinoco basin), Amazon and water bodies up to the Paraguay River basin. 42 cm. Coloration is bluish-silvery with 6-8 blue spots on the body and dark speckling on the fins. In youth, the body has a golden tint. Belly and barbels are white. The fish has a flattened snout. The upper jaw is longer than the lower. Nocturnal catfish, predator, live food only. Aquarium from 300 liters. Does not tolerate excessively high temperatures. pH 6.0-7.8; T 20-22°C.
Genus Sorubim.
— Duck Beak Catfish — Sorubim lima [Bloch & Sneider, 1801]. Synonym: Platystoma lima, luceri, Silurus lima, latirostris. (Eng. Duck Beak Catfish, Duckbill Catfish, Hockey Stick Catfish, Lima Shovelnosed Catfish, Ovel Nosed Catfish). Native to freshwater rivers with strong currents flowing in Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, and Peru.
In natural conditions, the catfish grows up to 60 cm, in the aquarium no more than 35-40 cm. Because of this, only young specimens are introduced into the community aquarium. The body is cylindrical and elongated, compressed laterally in the area of the caudal peduncle. The front of the head is strongly flattened like a beak or paddle, the shovel-shaped nose covers the inferior mouth. Snout long, flat, and slightly rounded at the end.
The wide mouth is adorned with three pairs of long barbels: one on the upper jaw and two on the lower, directed forward. The barbels, especially the maxillary ones, are long and protruding. Eyes are large. All fins are pointed, only the caudal is forked with a rounded lower lobe.
The main body coloration is gray-silvery with an olive tint and dark longitudinal stripes: one wide black stripe runs from the tip of the snout, through the eye, and ends on the lower lobe of the caudal fin, another narrower silvery one stretches along the back. The torso between them is yellowish, the back is dark, the belly is white. Sexual differences: the male has shorter barbels and fins, the female is paler and fuller than the male.
Predators, and this is the calmest and least aggressive species of all large flathead catfishes. Sorubim tries to swallow its prey whole. If the prey turns out to be too large, the catfish uncomplainingly releases it and heads to its shelter, methodically examining nearby objects with its barbels. An original fish, it can be kept when young along with large, non-aggressive species.
It is best to keep them in a group of two or three fish with fish of the same size. Sluggish, shows activity in the dark, especially during feeding. Stays in the lower water layers. Loves to lie upside down. Aquarium with plenty of driftwood, other shelters, including dense plant thickets so there is a place to hide during the day.
Catfishes do not touch live plants, but when frightened, they can make a sudden dash through the thickets and damage a significant part of them. Use large, healthy, well-rooted plants. Substrate – fine gravel. Lighting is dim. The unassuming coloration of Sorubim looks very impressive in reflected light. In general, they prefer twilight. They like to stay in the current.
Powerful filtration (likes clean water), aeration, artificial current, and weekly water changes are necessary. With a sharp change in water parameters, the skin of these catfishes peels off in shreds. Food: small live fish, fish fillet, squid, bloodworms, corethra, earthworms. Feed in the dark. Sorubim eventually becomes too large for the aquarium, but young specimens 10-12 cm long are very curious as pets. pH 6.2-7.5; dH 6-18°; T 22-30°C.
Genus Leiarius, Genus Perrunichthys, Genus Phractocephalus, Genus Platystomatichthys.
Platydoras armatulus, Platydoras costatus. 
