Amazon sailfin catfish, cachga, cachpas

Type Description

The maximum recorded length of the species is 49.0 cm and maximum weight: 310.00 g (Jumawan and Seronay, 2017). Its color is brown with yellow spots. It has a ventral mouth.

Habitat

"The main distribution areas of the species are lakes, water areas and wetlands. Pterygoplichthys spp. can be found in a wide variety of habitats, ranging from relatively cool, fast-flowing and oxygen-rich upland streams to slow-flowing, warm lowland rivers and oxygen-poor stagnant pools. They are tropical fish and their populations are limited only by low temperatures, with some species detected at about 8.8-11°C (Gestring, 2006).
They can thrive in acidic and alkaline waters with pH ranging from about 5.5 to 8.0 (Mendoza et al., 2009). They are usually found in soft waters, but can adapt very quickly to hard waters. Pterygoplichthys spp. are also highly tolerant to poor water quality and are often found in polluted waters (Chavez et al., 2006). They are known to utilize effluents from sewage treatment plants and can easily adapt to changing water quality (Nico and Martin, 2001). Pterygoplichthys spp. can be found from lowlands to altitudes up to 3,000 meters (Wakida-Kusunki, 2007). Some species are salt tolerant (Mendoza et al., 2009).

Although there is no significant trade in these fish, trade cannot be completely ruled out as a mechanism of dispersal to new locations (Mendoza et al., 2009).
Pterygoplichthys spp. were reported to have escaped from commercial farms during a typhoon in the Philippines (Hubilla et al., 2007).
Pterygoplichthys spp. are very common aquarium fish worldwide. All detected populations are believed to be the result of the release of pets or escape from aquaculture (Page and Robins, 2006).

Aquaculture of aquatic species locally can spread to water resources. It can spread through natural means. Unwanted fish can be intentionally released by their owners (Hubilla et al., 2007)."

Reproductive Information

Males construct horizontal nests approximately 120-150 cm in length. These nests are used as spawning tunnels, and the eggs are guarded by males until they hatch into free-swimming larvae. Females can deposit 500-3000 eggs per female, depending on size and species. Breeding peaks during the summer months and typically lasts for several months, but in certain locations, it can extend for years (Mendoza et al., 2009).

Lifecycle

The growth of Pterygoplichthys spp. is rapid during the first two years of life. Individuals kept in aquariums can live for over 10 years. The size range for most adult species is 30-50 cm, but individuals up to 70 cm have been observed. Pterygoplichthys spp. typically begin breeding at around 25 cm (Mendoza et al., 2009).

Nutrition Information

Pterygoplichthys spp. primarily feed on benthic algae and detritus (Ozdilek, 2007). Additionally, they can consume worms, insect larvae, fish eggs, and other bottom dwellers, but the majority of their diet consists of detritus, algae, and various plant materials (Mendoza et al., 2009).

General Impact Information

"They can cause disruption of aquaculture chains. They compete with native species. They cause changes in aquatic plant communities. They damage fishing gear and industry. Pterygoplichthys spp. damage is not fully understood, but where they are abundant, their feeding behavior and burrowing activities can cause significant disturbance.
Pterygoplichthys spp. can uproot or fragment aquatic plants through their behavior and reduce the abundance of submerged aquatic plant beds. By sitting on benthic algae and detritus, they can alter or reduce the availability of food and the physical structures available for aquatic insects, which are consumed by other native and non-native fish they are introduced to (Mendoza et al., 2009; Hossain et al., 2008).
Pterygoplichthys spp. can also compete with native fish. The species is believed to displace several species of small cyprinids in Texas (Mendoza et al., 2009).
Pterygoplichthys pardalis and P. multiradiatus damage fishing gear and gill nets in various parts of Mexico (Wakida-Kusunoki et al. 2007). Pterygoplichthys pardalis and P. disjunctivus are reported to destroy cages and nets and cause declines in more demanded fish (Chavez et al., 2006).
This species is blacklisted in the IUCN Global Invasive Species Database."

General Management Information

General Pathway Information

Entry and spread route to Turkey: aquarium trade

Notes

There is no information on the use of the species.

References