Red-tailed Freshwater Barracuda, Spotted Cachorro

About

The red-tailed freshwater barracuda (Acestrorhynchus falcatus) earns its common name through body shape and hunting style rather than any real relation to the marine barracuda. It's actually a characin, and a fascinating one at that. Native to the Amazon and Orinoco basins and the river systems of Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana, it typically inhabits areas with moderate water movement. The easiest way to identify this species among the look-alike Acestrorhynchus clan is the distinctive humeral spot just behind the gill cover. A tall, teardrop-shaped marking that is noticeably larger and more elongated than the rounded spots seen on its close relatives. Despite its predatory reputation, this fish is surprisingly workable in a large community setting as long as tankmates are too big to be considered a meal. Peaceful, similarly-sized fish like eartheater cichlids, mid-sized catfishes, or larger characins make good companions, while aggressive or highly competitive species should be avoided. Juveniles show a clear schooling instinct, and even adults do better in groups of four or more, though they become somewhat more independent with age. One firm rule: keep all individuals in the group at roughly the same size, since this species will absolutely take advantage of smaller companions. Courtship behavior has been observed in captivity, though successful rearing of fry remains unreported.