Ripsaw Catfish

A warning first: the ripsaw catfish is one of the largest members of the family Doradidae. It is sold in stores as 10 cm juveniles; adults exceed 1 meter and live a very long time. No standard home aquarium can house this fish, and public aquariums often do not accept grown individuals either. Never release it into the wild. Along the side of its gray to dark brown body it carries large, spiny bony plates lined up like the teeth of a saw; this is where its name comes from.

• At least 4000 liters for an adult; only the scale of a custom pond or public aquarium.
• A wide sand substrate; it feeds by sifting the bottom with its mouth.
• Minimal and very sturdy decor; large roots and rocks.
• Very strong filtration, a sump and frequent, large water changes.

Omnivorous and feeds from the bottom: with its downward-facing mouth it sifts the sand to collect invertebrates and organic matter. Offer large sinking granules, mussels, shrimp, worms and vegetable tablets.

Despite its size it is peaceful; it does not hunt fish. However, it eats shrimp and snails living on the bottom and knocks over decor with its large body. Its spines and hooked plates get caught in nets, and handling it is dangerous.

Good companions: only in very large systems, large and calm fish: big pacus, large cichlids, large catfish.

Avoid: normal home aquariums, shrimp and snails.