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Haven't done a real, live catfish in a while. Here, I give you one of the largest species of Pimelodid I have ever seen with any regularity on the market...

RFotW #22 -- Sorubimicthys planiceps -- Firewood Catfish



Okay, perhaps it is a smidge of a lie that these Pims are huge. Though maxing out at over 5' in length (a larger length than popularly said among the people that warn of the great sizes of the Red Tailed Catfish), it is actually a pretty slim fish, slimmer than any of the other Shovelnoses that are common. They kinda look like, you know, pieces of wood.

Like Merodontotus tigrinus, small specimens look vastly different from large specimens. Well, at least there is one feature in the juveniles not seen in the adults; those beautiful pectorals. Don't ask me what their significance is, but they just look really cool. However, those pectorals are an easy way to distinguish young specimens from the juveniles of the similar looking juvenile Tiger Shovelnose, which of course are also often quite scrawny. On the other hand, though, it is illegal to retain (and thus export) smaller specimens of this species. Unfortunately, this is the only way I've seen them, so it seems this law isn't well enforced.

This fish is one that's often found in fast-moving waters. As such, you'll be best off supplying this fish with a huge tank with a good current going for high oxygenation. Of course, being a Pim, you've got to give them a hiding place for when they don't want to be seen.

And of course, this fish will eat whatever fits in that huge mouth. Tankmates would have to be on the level of Pacu, Stingray, Arowana, and other large Pims. If you have a tank large enough to keep these guys you certainly can keep all of those other smaller Amazonian giants.

If you manage to get your hands on one of these fish, you actually aren't going to pay too much for them (unless they're huge). I've seen this species for about $35, although it was a juvenile, sold online.

Links:
http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.cfm?ID=12145&genusname=Sorubimichthys&speciesname=planiceps

http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/pimelodi/sorubimi/122_f.php

Past RFOTW:
1. Polynemus paradiseus -- Paradise threadfin
2. Anableps anableps -- Four-Eyed Fish
3. Hypancistrus zebra -- Zebra Plec
4. Potamotrygon sp. -- Pearl Ray
5. Merodontotus Tigrinus -- Tigrinus Catfish, Zebra Shovelnose
6. Rhinopias aphanes -- Merlet's Scorpionfish, Lacy Scorpionfish
7. Tetraodon pustulatus
8. Astronotus orbicularis -- Bumblebee Oscar
9. Parambassis pulcinella -- Rhino Glassfish, Humphead Glassfish
10. Lepisosteus platyrhincus -- Golden Florida Gar
11. Polyodon spathula -- Missippi Paddlefish
12. Pterois radiata -- Radiata Lionfish, Clearfin Turkeyfish
13. Panaque suttonorum, Panaque suttoni -- Blue Eyed Plec
14. Potamotrygon sp. -- P14, Itaituba Ray
15. Brachyplatysoma juruense -- Juruense Catfish, False Tigrinus, Alianza Cat
16. Neoceratodus forsteri -- Australian Lungfish, Queensland Lungfish
17. Paracheirodon simulans -- False Neon Tetra, Green Neon Tetra
18. Osphronemus laticlavius -- Red Tailed Giant Gourami
19. Osphronemus exodon -- Elephant Ear Gourami
20. Synodontis granulosus
21. Siganus guttatus -- Orange Spotted Rabbitfish, Gold Spot Rabbitfish
April Fools -- Corydoras revelatus

Last edited by Shinigami at 10-Apr-2005 19:18[/font]

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The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.

CUTE!!!!!!

as always, very well written, A++++++

and btw, i see the redtail cat in the BG, the Pacu in front, but what kinda stingray is that back there?? IT'S HUGE!!!!!

Daka<<<<