Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum

''Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum'' or barred sorubim or barred catfish is a species of long-whiskered catfish native to the Suriname, Corantijn and Essequibo. The nocturnal predator feeds mainly on other fish and crabs. Females reach a more notable size. They become sexually mature at , males at and this species reaches a maximum length of TL. Fecundity seems to be estimated at 8 million eggs per kg,Le Bail, P.-Y, P. Keith and P. Planquette. ''Atlas des poissons d'eau douce de Guyane (tome 2, fascicule II)''. Publications scientifiques du M.N.H.N, Paris, p. 307 (2000) but was recently measured in aquaculture at a lower, and more likely number of 150,000 eggs laid per kg.

Subspecies

According to Riehl and Haensch, five subspecies have been described:Riehl, R. and Baensch, H.A. Mergus Aquarien Atlas p. 510 (2002) 14. edt.
* ''P. f. brevifile '' Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1882
* ''P. f. fasciatum '' Linnaeus, 1766
* ''P. f. intermedium '' Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1888
* ''P. f. nigricans '' Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1889
* ''P. f. reticulatum '' Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1889

However, Buitrago–Suárez and Burr place ''P. f. brevifile, P. f. intermedium,'' and ''P. f. nigricans'', in the synonymy of '' P. punctifer''. ''P. f. reticulatum ''is elevated as another distinct species '' P. reticulatum''.Buitrago–Suárez, U.A. and Burr, B.M. (2007)
Taxonomy of the catfish genus Pseudoplatystoma Bleeker (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae) with recognition of eight species
; ''Zootaxa'' 1512: 1-38.

Previously, all subspecies except ''P. f. reticulatum'' were considered synonyms of ''P. fasciatum''.

Reproduction and rearing

The species is of interest for aquaculture for food production (and indirectly as conservation measure because it may lower the fishing pressure on wild population), as well as for production of fish.
Maturation in earthen tanks of fish caught in the wild is not problematic, since manipulation of fish during fishing and transportation is well done.
Reproduction may be obtained with two injections of Ovaprim® in 24 hours (10% and 90% of the recommended dosis, respectively), ovulation occurs after around 8 hr at 27 °C.Nuñez et al, 2008. Induced breeding and larval rearing of Surubi, Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum (Linnaeus, 1766), from the Bolivian Amazon , DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2109.2008.01928.x Incubation of eggs is carried out in "Zug" jars and hatching occurs 24 hours after fertilization at 26,5 °C. Vitelus resorption takes 3 days but larvae start feeding 2 days after hatching, and may start active cannibalism at this moment. Feeding may start 48 hours post-hatching with freshly hatched artemia nauplii, seven times a day. Larvae must be kept in the dark in order to maximize uniform distribution of larvae in the tanks and therefore food availability.Baras et al, 2011. How many meals a day to minimize cannibalism when rearing larvae of the Amazonian catfish Pseudoplatystoma punctifer? DOI:10.1051/alr/2011141 www.alr-journal.org After 15 days, food may be completed and then replaced gradually with ground mammalian liver. After 20 days post hatching, fingerling may be fed high quality pelleted food adapted to their size.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pseudoplatystoma Fasciatum
Pimelodidae
Fish described in 1766
Fish of French Guiana
Fish of Guyana
Fish of Suriname
Fish of Venezuela
Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus