Rhamdia quelen  (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824)
Image contributors to this species:
Peru Aquarium Group (2) Daniel Blom (1) Frants Lehmann (1 stamp)  Johnny Jensen's Photographic Library (3) Enrico Richter (3)
ScotCat Sources:
Other Sources:
Relevant Information:	Occurs in littoral creeks, over sandy bottoms covered with dead leaves. Inhabits also lakes and rivers, but seems to prefer rivers with a very slight current. Prefers a muddy bottom covered with leaves and decaying wood, the latter providing for hiding places during the day. Feeds on fish and insects, benthic zooplankton and crustaceans. Omnivorous. Mainly nocturnal. Possesses poisonous spiny rays. Its sex ratio is 2:1 in favor of females. The male's reproductive apparatus includes multi-lobed testicles and accessory organs for secretion and storage. Fertilization is external. Non-sticking demersal eggs (1.1 to 2.8 mm diameter) are laid down, hatching after about 48 hours at 22°C. Ten days later, the larvae weigh approximately 100 mg but growth is slow (0.5 to 1.15 g per day).
Common Name:	Max Cat
Synonyms:	Silurus quadrimaculatus, Pimelodus quelen, Pimelodus namdia, Pimelodus sebae, Rhamdia sebae, Heterobranchus sextentaculatus, Pimelodus hilarii, Rhamdia pentlandi, Pimelodus pentlandii, Rhamdia  hilarii, Pimelodus deppei, Pimelodus musculus, Pimelodus sellonis, Pimelodus stegelichii, Silurus sapipoca, Pimelenotus vilsoni, Rhamdia vilsoni, Rhamdia wilsoni, Pimelodus cinerascens, Rhamdia cinerascens, Rhamdia godmani, Pimelodus godmanni, Pimelodus micropterus, Pimelodus wuchereri, Rhamdia baronismuelleri, Pimelodus baronismuelleri, Pimelodus wagneri, Rhamdia wagneri, Rhamdia bransfordii, Pimelodus cuyabae, Pimelodus parahybae, Pimelodus queleni cuprea, Rhamdia guatemalensis oaxacae, Rhamdia oaxacae, Rhamdia depressa, Rhamdia guatemalensis depressa, Rhamdia barbata, Pimelodus boucardi, Rhamdia heteracantha, Rhamdia heteracanthus, Rhamdia nasuta, Rhamdia branneri, Rhamdia branneri voulezi, Rhamdia mounseyi, Rhamdia riojae, Rhamdia microps, Rhamdia pubescens, Silurus rivularis, Rhamdia micayi, Rhamdia quelen urichi, Caecorhamdia urichi, Caecorhamdella urichi, Rhamdia guatemalensis muriei, Rhamdia guatemalensis decolor, Rhamdia guatemalensis stygaea, Rhamdia saijaensis, Rhamdia sebae martyi, Rhamdia lehmanni, Rhamdia guatemalensis.
Family:	Heptapteridae lycipitidae
Distribution:	Central and South America: Mexico to central Argentina. Type locality: Peru, Depto Loreto, right bank quebradita tributary to R. Samiria between Caño Pastos and Hamburgo.
Size:	35cm. (15ins)
Temp:	24-26°C (75-79°F)
p.H.	6.0-70.
Reference:	Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2009.FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version (05/2009). Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2007. Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa 1418:1-628.