TankBud

Piraiba

Brachyplatystoma filamentosum

Also known as Piraiba catfish, Kumakuma, Lau-lau, Goliath catfish

FreshwaterFish

Piraiba (Brachyplatystoma filamentosum)
タウナギ · CC0

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–82°F
22–28°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
118.1 in
300 cm
Minimum tank
2,642 gal
10,000 L
Temperament
Aggressive
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Very rare
Family
Pimelodidae
Origin
Native to the Amazon and Orinoco river basins of South America.

Overview

The Piraiba is one of the ultimate tank busters, a catfish that reaches the size of a person and keeps growing. It is unsuitable for private keeping and belongs only in the largest public aquariums.

Did you know

The Piraiba is one of the fish behind Amazon legends of catfish big enough to swallow a person. The largest specimens really are longer than a tall man.

Caring for the Piraiba

Do not take on a Piraiba without an aquarium the size of a swimming pool, at least 2,642 gal (10,000 L). It needs the volume, current and swimming room of a river. Juveniles are sometimes sold cheaply and look cute, which is a serious trap given the adult size.

Keep the water warm and clean, at 72 to 82°F (22 to 28°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. The Piraiba is a fast, aggressive predator that hunts other fish. It will eat almost any companion, so it is housed alone. In the wild it spawns far upriver after a long migration, and the young drift downstream.

Good to know

Brachyplatystoma filamentosum ranks among the biggest freshwater fish on Earth. By some accounts it reaches 360 cm and over 200 kg. It makes some of the longest known freshwater fish migrations. It is a major commercial catch across the Amazon.

In the wild

The Piraiba is one of the largest fish in the Amazon and Orinoco. This silvery, powerful fish patrols the deep channels of big rivers and hunts across huge distances.

Common questions

What size tank does a Piraiba need?

A Piraiba needs at least 2,642 gal (10,000 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a Piraiba need?

A Piraiba is comfortable at 72–82°F (22–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a Piraiba eat?

A Piraiba is a fast, aggressive predator that hunts other fish. It will eat almost any companion, so it is kept alone.

How big does a Piraiba get?

An adult Piraiba reaches about 118.1 in (300 cm).

How does a Piraiba breed?

A Piraiba spawns far upriver at the end of a long migration, and its young drift back downstream.

Related species