Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum  (Linnaeus, 1766)  he "Tiger Shovelnose" is an out-and-out predator, so it should not be kept with any fish that is smaller than itself and it also should be housed in a very large tank. The best companions would probably be large Pacu's or similar sized fish that would not be swallowed.   Similar to Pseudoplatystoma tigrinum but P.tigrinum has more of a striped pattern. The  specimen pictured  here was taken in The Port Doree Public Aquarium in Paris, France. There has been a small influx to the hobby of a crossed version of this fish and a close relation Pseudoplatystoma tigrinum with the Red Tailed Catfish  (Phractocephalus hemioliopterus) which were primarily hormone bred for the food market in South America but some found there way into the aquatic hobby. There are also hybrids between the Red Tailed Catfish and the Tiger Fish, Brachyplatystoma tigrinum, and a few other large Pimelodid crosses along the way. My view is that these large fish have an imposing beauty all of their own without us having to inbreed them into any mongrel varieties. The picture above depicts a crossed variety which may be Phractocephalus hemioliopterus x Pseudoplatystoma tigrinum or Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum x  Phractocephalus hemioliopterus or Phractocephalus hemioliopterus x Merodontotus tigrinus. In saying all this there has been aquarists who have successfully kept  Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum and its close cousin Pseudoplatystoma tigrinum over the years but weighed against this is the number of "Tiger Shovelnoses" that have succumbed in aquarists tanks due to inexperience and neglect. So please only keep this fish if you can give it 100% commitment and give it the bigest tank that you can deliver bearing in mind that you will have to make it a large footprint i.e. plenty of inches from front to back of tank. I have to confess that I have tasted this species on the plate on my fish collecting trip to Peru in July 2000. The local name for this fish in Iquitos is "Dorada" and it is delicious. Characteristics Body elongate and streamlined, head long and depressed. Upper jaw longer than lower jaw. One pair of long maxillary barbels and two pairs of shorter mandibular barbels. Caudal fin deeply forked. Colour Body silvery grey along the sides, shading to olive along the back. Underside creamy white. Markings variable, usually vertical dark stripes and blotches. Fins usually spotted. Compatibility Its tank should have a shaded area at the back such as a large branch and plants to hide under as it is nocturnal, and also the lighting should not be too bright. Should not be kept with any fish that is smaller than itself and it also should be housed in a very large tank. The best companions would probably be large Pacu's or similar sized fish that would not be swallowed. In my opinion this wonderful looking Pim should only be kept in Public Aquariums as it can damage its large nose if kept in too confined an area, it can get jumpy too if feels its barbels on the tank sides as it turns around. It can also go of its food as well, if it is anyway disturbed. Sexing Females tend to be fuller and heavier than the males.   Breeding Not known   Feeding In their natural habitat they eat other fish such as characins and other catfish, they also eat freshwater crabs. In the aquarium a diet of earthworms, freshwater fish such as trout and also shrimp and prawns. You should only feed when it starts looking actively for it, as they will rest for a few days after feeding to digest their food. Etymology Pseudoplatystoma: Pseudos = fallacy; platys = broad; stoma = mouth. fasciatum : Banded Glossary of Terms: Maxillary barbels : Pertaining to the upper jaw. (maxillary barbels) Mandibular barbels : Pertaining to the lower jaw. (mandibualr barbels) Nocturnal : Active at night. Hybrid: The progeny of two individuals belonging to different species; the progeny of two individuals belonging to different subspecies of the same species are not hybrids. Reference Sands, David. Back to Nature Guide to Catfishes, 1997. Riehl, R. and H.A. Baensch 1991 Aquarien Atlas. Band. 1. Melle: Mergus, Verlag für Natur- und Heimtierkunde, Germany. 992 p. Photo Credits Top Picture        Allan James @   Bottom Picture: Chris Olson.