Jaú Catfish
NameJaú Catfish
Scientific NameZungaro zungaro
Common NamesJaú Catfish, Gilded Catfish, Zungaro
FamilyPimelodidae
OriginSouth America, Amazon Basin, Orinoco Basin
Temperamentaggressive
Dietcarnivore
Care Levelexpert
Minimum Tank Size (Gallons)2500
Max Size (Inches)59
Water TypeFreshwater
Temperature Range (°F)72-82
pH Range6.0-7.5
Compatible SpeciesNone (best kept alone or in public aquariums with similarly sized, robust predatory fish), Large Peacock Bass, Other very large South American catfish (e.g., Redtail Catfish in extremely large setups)
Description
The Jaú Catfish is a massive, predatory freshwater fish native to the Amazon and Orinoco river basins. Known for its impressive size and robust build, it is a formidable hunter in its natural habitat. Due to its immense adult size, this species is generally unsuitable for home aquariums and is typically found only in public aquariums or large, specialized ponds.
