dasher
21-10-2005, 09:53 PM
It's little sucker like these we have to keep our eyes out for before they can become a pest. >:(
Tiger catfish
Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum
Tiger catfish are declared noxious in Queensland. It is illegal to possess, rear, sell or buy tiger catfish. Offenders face penalties up to $150 000. Tiger catfish are have not established in Australia.
Description
In the wild, tiger catfish grow up to 104cm and 17kg, but are usually much smaller when kept in aquariums. They are usually grey along their back, shading to white on their belly. Their body is covered in black or dark brown bands. On the tail and fins these bands become smaller spots. Like all catfish they have barbels (whiskers) around their mouth, however these fish have exceptionally long barbels. As their name suggests, tiger catfish also have prominent and sharp teeth.
Distribution
Tiger catfish are native to South America, occuring in riverbeds and flooded areas of forests. They are not present in the wild in Australia.
Habitat
Tiger catfish are tropical, freshwater fish that spend most of their time on the bottom of rivers. Tiger catfish prefer sand or gravel bottoms and areas with abundant vegetation.
Diet
These fish feed at night on other fish and crabs. They generally only forage in riverbeds.
Reproduction
Female tiger catfish become sexually mature at 56cm and males at 45cm. This species is highly fecund, producing an estimated 8 million eggs per kilogram of weight. Eggs are not gaurded by the parents.
Environmental impacts
Tiger catfish are regarded as noxious due to their voracious appetite, large size, wide mouth gape and high fecundity. If they were introduced, they could cause the decline of native species.
Tiger catfish are not known to be in Australia, however if they are found in the wild or kept in an aquarium, they should be destroyed immediately and reported to the Department of Primary Industries.
Tiger catfish
Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum
Tiger catfish are declared noxious in Queensland. It is illegal to possess, rear, sell or buy tiger catfish. Offenders face penalties up to $150 000. Tiger catfish are have not established in Australia.
Description
In the wild, tiger catfish grow up to 104cm and 17kg, but are usually much smaller when kept in aquariums. They are usually grey along their back, shading to white on their belly. Their body is covered in black or dark brown bands. On the tail and fins these bands become smaller spots. Like all catfish they have barbels (whiskers) around their mouth, however these fish have exceptionally long barbels. As their name suggests, tiger catfish also have prominent and sharp teeth.
Distribution
Tiger catfish are native to South America, occuring in riverbeds and flooded areas of forests. They are not present in the wild in Australia.
Habitat
Tiger catfish are tropical, freshwater fish that spend most of their time on the bottom of rivers. Tiger catfish prefer sand or gravel bottoms and areas with abundant vegetation.
Diet
These fish feed at night on other fish and crabs. They generally only forage in riverbeds.
Reproduction
Female tiger catfish become sexually mature at 56cm and males at 45cm. This species is highly fecund, producing an estimated 8 million eggs per kilogram of weight. Eggs are not gaurded by the parents.
Environmental impacts
Tiger catfish are regarded as noxious due to their voracious appetite, large size, wide mouth gape and high fecundity. If they were introduced, they could cause the decline of native species.
Tiger catfish are not known to be in Australia, however if they are found in the wild or kept in an aquarium, they should be destroyed immediately and reported to the Department of Primary Industries.