▷ Sail fins snout tooth catfish L240 in the aquarium | All info

Data sheet sail fins snout tooth catfish / L240

German name:
Sail fins snout tooth catfish / L240

Scientific name:
Leporacanthicus sp.

Origin:
South America

Size:
25cm to 30cm

Aquarium

Length:
Length from 150 cm width and from 80 cm width

Contents:
from 450 liters

water values

Temperature:
26°-29° C

pH:
5.5 – 7.5

GH:
0° – 20° dH

Behave

Area:
lower area

Lining:
carnivor – live food, frozen food

Behave:
mostly peaceful, claims territory

Number:
individually, in pairs, in small groups

Difficulty level:
Beginner

The home of the sailfin snout-tooth catfish is the clear waters of the upper Rio Orinoco on the Amazon.

Look

Thomas Siems, Leporacanthicus joselimai, white tip snout tooth catfish, L 264 (10227361116), CC BY-SA 2.0

The catfish got its name from the long teeth on the upper jaw and the pronounced sail fins. In the aquarium, it stands out primarily because of its stately size contrasting body shape and the huge fins. The overall body color shows white dots on a dark background. In the juveniles, the spots are still large and few in number. With the age of the animal, the dots become smaller and significantly fewer. The fins also develop strongly with age and they get bigger.

Posture recommendation

Big fish need big aquariums. The finned snout tooth catfish «only» feels in one large territory with a capacity of 450 liters or more. The water quality can be soft to hard. A high-quality filter system, a gentle current and regular water changes ensure a clear and oxygen-rich element. Especially since the big fish eats plenty and excretes accordingly.

Tip: Anyone who wants to support the well-being of fish, invertebrates and plants gives humic substances into the water.

The aquarium should have a good structure and offer the catfish sufficient swimming space. Various caves made of large roots and stone structures are used for hiding and resting. The planting consists of robust stem and floating plants as well as mosses. Since the catfish prefers stay on the groundthe ground is laid out with fine sand or gravel.

food

Sailfin snouttooth catfish feed carnivorous. They feed exclusively on animal food. The live food or frozen food made from krill, mosquito larvae, glow worms or small shrimp. The food must sink to the bottom quickly, as the catfish likes to dig and prefer to eat on the bottom.

gender differences

Above all, the adult male is to be distinguished from the females. The fish get one distinct head and pectoral spines. Strong odontodes can be seen on the head and edge of the mouth. The upper lip is covered with numerous barbels.

breeding and rearing

Breeding is demanding. There have been successes in keeping pairs and groups. A higher temperature of 28° to 31° Celsius and clean water are used for stimulation. The mating appears somewhat rough and injuries can occur in the female.

After spawning in the cave, the male guards the brood until hatching. After the yolk sac has been depleted, the young leave the burrow. From then on they tolerate adult food.

socialization

The sailfin snout tooth catfish is ideal for a South America community aquarium. However, it can be territorial and highly predatory.

It gets along well with peaceful aquarium fish (tetras), which prefer to stay in the middle and upper tank area. Crayfish and shrimp are excluded as roommates.

With species-appropriate keeping, the finned snout-toothed catfish can grow up to 15 years to become old.