Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum or barred sorubim is a species of long-whiskered catfish native to the Corantijn, Essequibo, Orinoco, Paraná and Amazon Basins. The nocturnal predator feeds mainly on other fish and crabs. Females reach a more notable size. They become sexually mature at 56 cm (22 in), males at 45 cm (18 in) and this species reaches a maximum length of 104 cm (41 in) TL. Fecundity seems to be estimated at 8 million eggs per kg, but was recently measured in aquaculture at a lower, and more likely) level of 150 000 eggs laid per kg.
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 for aquariologists. Maturation in earthern 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. Incubation of eggs is carried out in "Zug" jars and hatching occurs 24 hours after fertilization at 26,5°C. Vitelus resorbtion 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. 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.
