Leiarius pictus
(Müller & Troschel, 1849)
|
his month (Feb. 2006) we stay in South America
and on to the Pimelodidae
family and a very nicely marked species,
the "Sailfin Pim", Leiarius pictus. This genus
comprises of two species (Ferraris, 2007), the other being
L. marmorates,
and they are more closely related to the sub-family Surubiminae,
the shovel noses, and that will maybe give you an idea of this
catfishes temperament, not to be messed with!.
The juveniles of this species have rounded
caudal fin lobes, pointed in adults, and longer maxillary barbels
in ratio to body size and the colour is less intense in adults.
Even though this is a stunning catfish, as an adult it is not
really a fish for the home aquarium, as it will need to be housed
in a huge tank as it will get very nervous and will try to escape
the confines of the aquarium if its barbels can touch the both
sides of the glass sides at the same time, so it would need
to be a least 7' 0" long by 24" in width. If you are
able to accommodate these requirements you will need a well
covered tank with dim lighting, floating plants may help here,
with strong external filtration and caves for cover. Large smooth
rounded boulders and branches would complete the aquascape.
Head narrow, flattish above, upper jaw slightly
longer than the lower. On adult specimens the maxillary barbels
extend to a little beyond the dorsal fin, the inner mandibular
barbels to base of pecoral fin and the outer mandibular barbels
to the middle of the pectoral fin. Maxillary barbels extend well
beyond the tips of the caudal fin in juvenile specimens. Body
is heaviest under base of dorsal fin spine. Large sail-like dorsal
fin has 9-10 soft rays; caudal fin deeply forked.
Body dark brown with darker spots, lighter
on underside. Two pale bands, the first extending from the base
of the dorsal fin spine toward the ventral fin, then laterally
along the body to the caudal base; the second thinner band lies
parallel to the first originating from approximately the base
of the third to sixth soft dorsal fin rays. Dorsal, adipose and
caudal fins with large round dusky spots. Anal and ventral fins
with smaller spots. Barbels ringed with light and dark.
This fish can be very territorial and a
predator in aquarium set-ups and as such can only be kept with
large cichlids or fish such as the Giant Gourami. It can not be
mixed with other members of the Pimelodidae family as they are
too aggresive to conspecifics.
| Sexing |
Males are slimmer than
females.
|
| Breeding |
Not known.
Live fishes, prawns and large earthworms.
| Etymology |
Leiarius:
Smooth
pictus: Painted
|
| Glossary
of Terms: |
Maxillary
barbels : Pertaining
to the upper jaw. (maxillary barbels)
Mandibular barbels : Pertaining to the
lower jaw. (mandibualr barbels)
|
| Reference |
Sands, David;
Catfishes of the World Vol.3: Auchenipteridae & Pimelodidae
Catfish Association of Great Britain, Volume
1; p76.
Baensch, H.A. and R. Riehl 1985 Aquarien
atlas. Band 2. Mergus, Verlag für Natur- und Heimtierkunde
GmbH, Melle, Germany. 1216 p.
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| Photo
Credits |
Allan James @
|
|
|
| Synonyms:
|
| Sciades pictus, Bagrus
pictus |
| Common
Name: |
| Sailfin Pim |
| Family: |
| Pimelodidae |
| Subfamily: |
| Surubiminae |
| Distribution: |
| South America:
Amazon and Orinoco River basins |
| Size: |
| 60cm. (24ins) |
| Temp: |
| 22
-26°C (71 -79°F) |
| pH.: |
| 6.0-7.5. |
| Hardness: |
| up to 18dGH |
| Donation: |
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