Leiarius pictus
(Müller & Troschel, 1849)
|
his month (Feb. 2006) we stay in South America and on to the Pimelodidaeyfamily
and a very nicely marked species, the "Sailfin Pim",
Leiarius pictus. This genus comprises of two species,
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.
Baench; Aquarium Atlas 2
|
| Photo
Credits |
|
|
|
| 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: |
If you found this page
helpful you can help keep ScotCat running by making a small
donation, Thanks.
|
|
|
|
