PlanetCatfish.com - Lophiosilurus alexandri (Pseudopimelodidae) Cat-eLog

Juvenile
Close-up of head
Fry

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Lophiosilurus alexandri** Steindachner, 1876
Common Names	Pac-man Catfish Alexanders Breitmaulfisch (Germany), Pacamã (Brazilian)
Type Locality	Probably Amazonus, Brazil.
Synonym(s)	Lophiosilurus agassizi, Pseudopimelodus agassizii, Silurus muticus
Pronunciation	alex ann dry
Etymology	Greek, lophos = crest + Greek, silouros = cat fish -> Crested catfish.
Species Information
Size	720mm or 28.3" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	Only smaller fish are similar to the Asian Chaca Frog mouthed cats. Otherwise this is an instantly recognisable fish.
Sexing	Unknown
General Remarks	A very interesting fish as it appears to be a very good example of parallel evolution. Compare with catfish of the Asian genus Chaca. The English common name 'Pac Man Catfish' is interesting as it obviosly and accurately compares this species with the yellow, large-mouthed and pellet gobbling arcade game character, but also it is a bastardisation of the Brazilian name for the fish, Pacamã. Furthermore, the source of that may be that Paco is a common nickname for Francisco (this species is only found in the Rio Sao Francisco) albeit commonly used in Spanish as opposed to Portuguese (typically Chico).
Habitat Information
Distribution	South America: São Francisco River basin, Brazil. São Francisco (click on these areas to find other species found there) Login to view the map.
IUCN Red List Category	Vulnerable , range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2018.
pH	6.0 - 7.0
Temperature	22.0-27.0°C or 71.6-80.6°F (Show species within this range)
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Will eat dead and live fish. Frozen foods are also taken. User data.
Furniture	A sandy bottom is all that is required for this fish.
Compatibility	Do not house with fish it can eat (which is anything less than half its size).
Breeding	Has been spawned in captivity at least twice. Spawns over 5cm gravel in a shallow pit with the male guarding over the site. Tank size 48"x24"x24" with no other fishes. Parents were about 15-17" SL with the male the smaller. Water was treated with blackwater extract and the fishes fed well on a varied diet including fresh foods but not live. The temperature was 82F. Fry hatch after two days and once free of the yolk sac, grow about 5mm on a diet of freshly chopped live tubifex worms. A daily 15% water change routine is necessary to maintain feeding and growth. See also PFK, Septermber 2008, Benjamin Lee article.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Sitzungsberichte der Kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften. Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Classe v. 74 (1. Abth.), pp 154 [106], Pl. 15.
Registered Keepers	There are 9 registered keepers, view all "my cats" data.
Wishlists	Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list. There are 2 wishes to keep this species, see who wants what.
Spotters	Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars! There are 9 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.31.232.907
Last Update	2025 Jan 02 01:38 (species record created: 2002 Jul 18 00:00)