Piraiba
Brachyplatystoma filamentosum
- Adult size
- 200 cmabout 7 ft (79 in)
- Start with
- 1
- Tank length
- 1200 cmabout 39 ft (472 in)
- Lifespan
- 20–30 yrs
- Temperature
- 20–28 °C68–82 °F
- pH
- 5.6–7.5
- Hardness
- 1–15 dGH
- Diet
- carnivore
Among the world's largest catfish; it cannot be housed in any home aquarium.Among the world's largest catfish; it cannot be housed in any home aquarium.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- Acei cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- African butterfly cichlid
Piraiba may eat African butterfly cichlidPiraiba may eat African butterfly cichlid
- African clawed frog
Piraiba may eat African clawed frogPiraiba may eat African clawed frog
- Agassiz's cory
Piraiba may eat Agassiz's coryPiraiba may eat Agassiz's cory
- Ajamaru rainbowfish
Piraiba may eat Ajamaru rainbowfishPiraiba may eat Ajamaru rainbowfish
Amano shrimpPiraiba may eat Amano shrimpPiraiba may eat Amano shrimp
- American flagfish
Piraiba may eat American flagfishPiraiba may eat American flagfish
- Angfa rainbowfish
Piraiba may eat Angfa rainbowfishPiraiba may eat Angfa rainbowfish
- Arfak rainbowfish
Piraiba may eat Arfak rainbowfishPiraiba may eat Arfak rainbowfish
Assassin snailPiraiba may eat Assassin snailPiraiba may eat Assassin snail
- Banded gourami
Piraiba may eat Banded gouramiPiraiba may eat Banded gourami
- Bandit cory
Piraiba may eat Bandit coryPiraiba may eat Bandit cory
Sources
| temperature | 20–28 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
|---|---|---|
| ph | 5.6–7.5 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
| gh | 1–15 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
| origin | Amazon and Orinoco basins | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| notes | Among the world's largest catfish; it cannot be housed in any home aquarium. | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| beginner friendly | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| care level | advanced | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| color palette | #6A6A6A, #C8C8C8 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| activity | active | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| swim zone | bottom | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| temperament | predatory | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| fin nipper | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| long finned | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| territorial | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| schooling | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| schooling min | 1 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| diet | carnivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| lifespan years | 20–30 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| growth to adult months | 48 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| length weight | {"a":0.008,"b":3} | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| planted safe | true | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| min tank length | 800 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| body shape | catfish | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |