Brachyplatystoma ID

[GiantFishKeeper101]

Good eye.

Two years ago I couldn't tell. Now I agree without doubt. This is a capa or at least what we know as capa. Not filamentosum.

I too after 9 months learning about these two species, it's quite easy to differentiate lol. Usually the head, fila have more of a pointy mouth & darker color. Even in Peru fila with lighter color have difference. Still, i haven't mastered yet the 4 river filamentosum.

 

[piranhaman00]

The barbels on that little guy are insane! Keep us updated on growth!

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

I agree that the new fish is a filamentosum. The much reduced skittishness and the long barbels are also consistent with the ID.

How big is your capapretum now?

 

[Sunnyboy]

I agree that the new fish is a filamentosum. The much reduced skittishness and the long barbels are also consistent with the ID.

How big is your capapretum now?

The capapretum is currently around 15 - 16 inches. I've passed it over to my friend's residence, but I'll probably be able to get a photo of it soon. It grew relatively slowly, putting on about 2 inches per month initially, then even less as time passes.

 

[Sunnyboy]

Sadly its got a bent snout now. The causative frequent collisions with the tank glass were truly hard to prevent. The only true solution I guess is to skip the incubation tank stage altogether and just place the juvenile in a spacious pond (Thailand has tropical weather that is naturally very favourable to many amazonian species).

 

[Sunnyboy]

The barbels on that little guy are insane! Keep us updated on growth!

Will do. Good prospects as it is already taking live food (tilapia fry) voraciously after a mere 7 hours after introduction to its new home. Barbels will be hard to maintain, but I'll try keep them intact

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

Sadly its got a bent snout now. The causative frequent collisions with the tank glass were truly hard to prevent. The only true solution I guess is to skip the incubation tank stage altogether and just place the juvenile in a spacious pond (Thailand has tropical weather that is naturally very favourable to many amazonian species).

Don't feel too bad about it. Not because it's ok but because this is what 100% of keepers of this fish find out first hand.

Your proposal is good but may not always be feasible. There are other things to do to alleviate the problem of bashing the snout.

I'd recommend these for all keepers of Brachyplatystoma capapretum aka false piraiba and Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii aka dourada or dorado catfish:

-- keeping the fish solo,
-- keeping it in a spacious tank where its barbels won't reach front and back at the same time,
-- keeping the lights very dim,
-- being very careful around its tank, making no sudden or quick moves, no noises, no sudden light changes,
-- padding the tank walls with filter mats or plastic plants such as faux grass squares,
-- keeping the fish in a pond as opposed to a transparent fish tank.

 

[Sunnyboy]

Don't feel too bad about it. Not because it's ok but because this is what 100% of keepers of this fish find out first hand.

Your proposal is good but may not always be feasible. There are other things to do to alleviate the problem of bashing the snout.

I'd recommend these for all keepers of Brachyplatystoma capapretum aka false piraiba and Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii aka dourada or dorado catfish:

-- keeping the fish solo,
-- keeping it in a spacious tank where its barbels won't reach front and back at the same time,
-- keeping the lights very dim,
-- being very careful around its tank, making no sudden or quick moves, no noises, no sudden light changes,
-- padding the tank walls with filter mats or plastic plants such as faux grass squares,
-- keeping the fish in a pond as opposed to a transparent fish tank.

Thanks for the advice. Seems much more reasonable than my initial proposal really. As a side not the filamentosum on the other hand is doing well in terms of not being spooked (already developing its bad attitude it seems) and will even tolerate arapaimas making a fuss in the background. Accidentally overfed it, but deciding to leave it as it is as I want it to be minimally interrupted. Doesn't seem to binge to the point of swelling up like redtails yet, so it shouldn't eat its food to death. I now find that tadpoles also work well as live food, as they are easily caught by the fish. Water quality in the tank shouldn't drop too much, as I have a relatively powerful filtration system.

 

[Sunnyboy]

Please do tell me if leaving it is a bad idea though. Its 5 days' worth of live food, assuming it feeds everyday.

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

I think it will be fine. All Brachies appear to resist overeating. They only eat enough to develop a mild bulge.

Fila's calm is another trait that distinguishes it from capa.