Found in both Caribbean and Pacific-slope drainage basins in Central America, from southern Mexico through Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, and into Costa Rica.

This species clearly shouldn’t ‚ be considered a home aquarium‚ subject at all given its eventual size and the fact it can live for‚ several decades.‚

Endemic to Cuba where it’s found throughout western parts of the island plus Isla de la Juventud (Isle of Youth, formerly known as the Isle of Pines). It’s endangered across most of this range and captive breeding efforts are well-established.

Known locally in Cuba as ‘manjuari’, it clearly shouldn’t be considered a home aquarium subject…

This is one of the largest freshwater fish species in the world, and clearly shouldn’t be considered a home aquarium subject at all given its eventual size and the fact it can live for well in excess of 50 years. We include it here only because some public aquaria are able to maintain it long-term.

Unfortunately, juveniles are seen for sale quite regularly in the aquari…

Known from Great Lakes Erie and Michigan with distribution extending south through the Mississippi River basin to the Gulf of Mexico drainages where it’s said to occur between the lower Apalachicola River in Florida and the Nueces River in Texas.

It may also be found in the Rio Grande which forms the border between Mexico and the United States further south where records include Falcon International Reservoir, for example.