Common name/s: Freshwater baracuda, Dog characin, Amazon Cachorro

Scientific name: Acestrorhynchus falcirostris

Family: Characidae

Origin: Amazon basin

Maximum size: 16" though 12" more likely in captivity

Care: A large aquarium with massive filtration is a must, minimum tank size should be 5x2x2' (150 gallon). The fish is unfussy of water parameters providing extremes of hardness and pH are avoided, temperatures from 24 to28 celcius are tolerated (75-82f). It is advised to heavily plant the sides of the tank to prevent the fish from smashing its self against the glass. The fish is a predator and should only be kept with equal sized and larger fish.

Feeding: FISH! This fish is a pure piscavor, smaller specimins can be converted to frozen meaty foods but adults demand living fish.

Sexing and breeding: Unknown

Comments: Despite its predatory life style and aggressive looks the fish is shy and easily frightened, do not keep with overly aggressive fish or the baracuda will attempt to escape the tank often damaging themselves against the hood of the tank.