Barred sorubim

General information

The Barred sorubim, also known as the Barred catfish or Tiger shovelnose catfish, is a freshwater fish belonging to the family Pimelodidae. It is native to South America, specifically the Amazon and Orinoco River basins. It is a popular game fish and aquarium fish due to its attractive appearance and large size. The scientific name of this fish is Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum. 
They do have sharp teeth and spines on their fins, which can cause injury if handled improperly. It is recommended to use caution when handling these fish and to wear protective gloves.

Barred sorubim are carnivorous and primarily feed on other fish, crustaceans, and insects in the wild. In captivity, they can be fed a diet of live or frozen foods such as shrimp, fish, and worms. They may also eat commercial fish pellets and flakes.

It can be challenging to determine the sex of Barred sorubim without close examination of their reproductive organs. Males may have a slightly more elongated body shape and may also develop breeding tubercles on their head and pectoral fins during the breeding season.

Breeding Barred sorubim in captivity is challenging and has not been widely successful. They are known to be egg scatterers and require specific water conditions and spawning triggers to reproduce. In the wild, they typically spawn during the rainy season.

Like many aquarium fish, Barred sorubim can be susceptible to bacterial, fungal, and parasitic infections. It is important to maintain good water quality and avoid overcrowding to prevent disease outbreaks. Quarantine new fish before introducing them to the aquarium to prevent the spread of disease.

Barred sorubim are native to the Amazon and Orinoco River basins in South America.

Barred sorubim are large and predatory fish, and as such, they should be kept in large aquariums with plenty of swimming space and hiding places. They may eat smaller fish or invertebrates in the aquarium, so it is important to only keep them with similarly sized fish. They can also grow very large, up to 4 feet (120 cm) in length, so it is important to have an appropriately sized aquarium or pond.

When introducing Barred sorubim to a new aquarium, it is important to acclimate them slowly to avoid stress and potential health issues. This can be done by floating the bag containing the fish in the aquarium for 15-30 minutes to equalize the temperature, and then gradually adding small amounts of aquarium water to the bag over the course of several hours before releasing the fish into the aquarium.