Big-eyed Cachorro

About

Found across the Amazon and Orinoco river basins as well as the rivers of Guyana, this large characin, Acestrorhynchus falcirostris, inhabits both clear and blackwater environments and is one of the more impressive predatory fish available to the freshwater hobby. Adults are big animals, and juveniles show two bold dark stripes running the length of the body. A pattern shared with close relatives like A. nasutus. But unusually, these stripes fade as the fish matures. Adults are instead identified by a distinctive dark blotch at the caudal base and a black-edged operculum that gives the fish a collared look. Despite being labeled aggressive, this species is actually manageable in a large, well-planned community, provided no tankmate is small enough to become a meal. Peaceful, robust fish, large cichlids like Geophagus, armored catfishes, and bigger characins, make suitable companions. Avoid anything assertively territorial, as competition stresses these fish. Juveniles school readily, and even adults benefit from being kept in groups of four or more. One firm rule: any group should be made up of individuals close in size, since cannibalism is a real risk when size differences exist. Spawning has been observed in captivity, though raising fry successfully has not yet been reported.