Freshwater Fish Species Profiles

105. ELECTRIC EEL (Electrophorus electricus)
FAMILY: Gymnotidae
TYPE: Miscellanious
MAX SIZE: 100" (approx. 250cm)
ORIGIN: South America
DIET: Carnivorous
CHARACTER: Aggressive
MISC: capable of generating powerful electric shocks, which it uses for both hunting and self-defense, their scientific classification is closer to carp and catfish



104. ARAPAIMA (Arapaima gigas)
FAMILY: Osteoglossidae
TYPE: Miscellanious
MAX SIZE: more than 200" (approx. 500cm)
ORIGIN: South America
DIET: Carnivorous
CHARACTER: Aggressive

MISC: perhaps the biggest freshwater fish, has the ability to breathe air from the surface due to a lung-like lining of its throat, the tongue of this fish is thought to have medicinal qualities in South America. It is dried and combined with guarana bark, which is grated and mixed into water

103. CLOWN PLECO "L104", "L162", and "LDA22" (Panaqolus maccus)
FAMILY: Loriicaridae
TYPE: Catfish
MAX SIZE: 3.6" (approx. 9cm)
ORIGIN: Venezuela and Colombia (South America)
DIET: Omnivorous
CHARACTER: Peaceful
MISC: wood eater, has been commercially bred


102. BIG SPOTTED BARYANCISTRUS "L142" and "LDA33" (Baryancistrus sp.)
FAMILY: Loriicaridae
TYPE: Catfish
MAX SIZE: 10" (approx. 25cm)
ORIGIN: Rio Tapajos, Brazil (South America)
DIET: Omnivorous
CHARACTER: Peaceful

MISC: shows a fondness for sweet potato and algae wafers, feed a varied diet to keep this fish healthy, become increasingly territorial to other bottom dwellers (especially Loricariids) as it matures

101. KING TIGER PLECO "L66" (Hypancistrus sp.)
FAMILY: Loriicaridae
TYPE: Catfish
MAX SIZE: 5" (approx. 12cm)
ORIGIN: Rio Tocantins, Brazil (South America)
DIET: Omnivorous
CHARACTER: Peaceful

MISC: a distinctive L number that is only confused with a few other similarly patterned species, youngsters however are quite different from the adults