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Orinoco flagtail prochilodus

Semaprochilodus laticeps

Also known as Colombian flagtail prochilodus, Royal flagtail

FreshwaterFish

Orinoco flagtail prochilodus (Semaprochilodus laticeps)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
73–82°F
23–28°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
17.3 in
44 cm
Minimum tank
264 gal
1,000 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Rare
Family
Prochilodontidae
Origin
Orinoco basin, Colombia and Venezuela

Overview

The Orinoco flagtail prochilodus is a large, migratory grazer for a very big tank with strong current. It is a serious commitment and a project for experienced monster-fish keepers.

Did you know

Orinoco flagtail prochilodus gather in the wild into enormous spawning shoals that surge up the river each year. The run is so dense that local fisheries are timed around it. The banded tail fin that gives the flagtail its name flashes through the whole run.

Caring for the Orinoco flagtail prochilodus

The Orinoco flagtail prochilodus needs a tank of at least 264 gal (1,000 L), since adults are active swimmers. It wants length and strong, oxygen-rich flow more than decor. Run heavy filtration to handle its output.

Keep the water warm and soft to neutral, at 73 to 82°F (23 to 28°C) and a pH of 5.5 to 7.5. Feed a mainly vegetable diet of algae wafers, spirulina and sinking greens, alongside some frozen foods.

It shoals in the wild and does best as a group, but only in a very big tank. It is mostly peaceful, but it can squabble and jostle, so treat tank mates with caution. It is a long-distance migratory spawner and is not bred in aquaria, so captive reproduction is essentially unrecorded.

Good to know

The Orinoco flagtail prochilodus, Semaprochilodus laticeps, is a member of Prochilodontidae, the flannel-mouth characins. It is the largest of the flagtails. Its protrusible, rubbery mouth is ringed with fine teeth for rasping algae and detritus off rocks and wood.

In the wild

The Orinoco flagtail prochilodus comes from the Orinoco basin of Colombia and Venezuela. It runs the main river in vast shoals and feeds on the film of algae and detritus coating the bottom.

Common questions

What size tank does an Orinoco flagtail prochilodus need?

An Orinoco flagtail prochilodus needs at least 264 gal (1,000 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does an Orinoco flagtail prochilodus need?

An Orinoco flagtail prochilodus is comfortable at 73–82°F (23–28°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.5.

What does an Orinoco flagtail prochilodus eat?

An Orinoco flagtail prochilodus eats a mainly vegetable diet of algae wafers, spirulina and sinking greens. It also takes some frozen foods.

How big does an Orinoco flagtail prochilodus get?

An adult Orinoco flagtail prochilodus reaches about 17.3 in (44 cm).

How does an Orinoco flagtail prochilodus breed?

Orinoco flagtail prochilodus are long-distance migratory spawners. They are not bred in aquaria, and captive reproduction is essentially unrecorded.

Related species