AquaticRepublic.com - Pseudacanthicus pitanga (Loricariidae) All Fishes

Sub-adult
Close-up of mouth
Dorsal view
Close-up of mouth
Pectoral fin spines
Male
Feeding on prawn
Video
Male
Adult, 34cm SL

All Fishes Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Pseudacanthicus pitanga** Chamon, 2015
Common Names	L024, Red Fin Cactus Pleco LDA118, Flame Pleco, Oliven Kaktussugemalle (Denmark)
Type Locality	Serra dos Carajás, bedrock at rio Itacaiunas, Serra dos Carajás, Pará, Brazil, 05032'00"W, 0552'00"S.
Pronunciation	SUE dah KAN thi cuss
Etymology	Pseud- Greek: False, Acanthicus - Greek: Spiny, Thorny. Literally "False Acanthicus" referring to this genus being similar to, yet different from, Acanthicus. The specific epithet comes from the Tupi-Guarani word for red, in reference to the color of the fins.
Species Information
Size	340mm or 13.4" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	The German common name for this genus is ''Cactus Pleco''. A good name! Pseudacanthicus is a member of the Acanthicus clade. Species of the Acanthicus clade are distinguished from other Loricariidae species by the presence of (1) longitudinal rows of keels (pointed odontodes) along the body sides; (2) eight or more dorsal-fin rays (vs. six or seven in most other loricariids except Pterygoplichthys, Chaetostoma, Pogonopoma and Pseudancistrus pectegenitor); (3) seven to eight infraorbitals (vs. usually five or six); (4) five anal-fin branched rays (vs. usually four); and (5) presence of hypertrophied odontodes along the snout margin (vs. hypertrophied odontodes absent in other loricariids except Isbrueckerichthys and Pareiorhaphis, in Neoplecostominae; Panaque and Pseudancistrus and Neblinichthys, in Ancistrini; and most dimorphic males of Loricariinae). Within the Acanthicus group, Pseudacanthicus is distinguished by the presence of two small plates in the posterior area of the compound pterotic (vs. one median plate or plate absent), and by the presence of narrow premaxillae with a small number of elongate and curved teeth (except from Leporacanthicus). Similar to L025 (Pseudacanthicus pirarara) but ultimately smaller with a less contrasting overall colouration making it drabber in appearance. The colour form LDA118 looks very similar to L024 (Pseudacanthicus pitanga). It is found in the upper reaches of the Rio Itacaiüna which shares a rainy season floodplain with the upper reaches of the Rio Frisco, which is a tributary of Rio Xingu. From the Rio Xingu comes ), while L24 comes from the Rio Tocantins.
Sexing	Mature males have considerably more odontodal growth on most fins rays but the pectorals are most adorned. Females fill out quite considerably in relation to the slender males.
Habitat Information
Distribution	South America: Brazil: Rio Tocantins Amazon, Lower Amazon, Tocantins (click on these areas to find other species found there) Amazon, Lower Amazon, Tocantins, Itacaiúnas (click on these areas to find other species found there) Login to view the map.
IUCN Red List Category	Not Evaluated
Temperature	23.0-27.0°C or 73.4-80.6°F (Show species within this range)
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Carnivore although not a predator, prawns and chopped mussel appear favourites and promote favourable growth. Some vegetable should also be provided and thus balances diet. User data.
Furniture	Not as shy as some members of the genus although a shady retreat should be provided.
Compatibility	Generally peaceful but territorial from a young age. Some large specimens are aggressively territorial and may cause problems if housed with other large nocturnal fish.
Suggested Tankmates	The temptation with large tough Loricariids is to keep them with large, tough other fish such as Oscars or other brutish characters. This actually works quite well with most omnivorous or mainly vegetarian plecos. Pseudacanthicus however are big messy carnivores, but, like all large plecos, produce vast amounts of waste and as such would require monumental filtration to house alongside non-catfish ''equals''. It is better to think of these catfish as the centerpiece fish and stock their aquarium with medium sized (preferably omnivorous) fish. All sizes of barbs work surprisingly well.
Breeding	Unknown but almost certainly a cave / pipe spawner.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Zootaxa 3973 (no. 2), pp 310, Figs. 1-3.
Registered Keepers	There is no registered keeper.
Wishlists	Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list. There is no wish to keep this species.
Spotters	Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars! There are 11 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.4.40.125
Last Update	2022 Oct 03 01:43 (species record created: 2001 May 05 00:00)