Pimelodus ornatus  Kner, 1858
Image contributors to this species:
ScotCat (2) Peru Aquarium Group (1) Daniel Blom (3) Wolfgang Ros (10)
ScotCat Sources:
Other Sources:
Aquarium Care:	Can be predatory with smaller tankmates so choose carefully. Feeding is not a problem  as they will eat most aquarium fare.
Relevant Information:	Occurs in principal river beds, in upstream parts of rivers, downstream rapids, in backwater  zones or on stony bottoms of pools with dead tree trunks. Active at dusk. Piscivorous.  Emits loud grumblings. Secretes toxic mucus and the wounds caused by its pectoral  spines are very painful. The female can preserve spermatozoids by coating them with  original maternal secretions and inserting them in the epithelium of its genital tract. The  presence of sperm in the mucus of the female's genital tract is indicative of internal  fertilization.
Common Name:	Ornate Pim
Synonyms:	Megalonema rhabdostigma
Family:	Pimelodidaeycipitidae
Distribution:	South America: Amazon, Corintijns, Essequibo, Orinoco, and Paraná River basins. Also in  major rivers of  the Guianas
Size:	38.5cm. (15½ins)
Temp:	24-25°C (75-77°F)
p.H.	6.5-7.2.
Reference:	Ros, Wolfgang (2008): Ein Schmuckstück im Aquarium: Der Raubwels Pimelodus ornatus,  Aquaristik- Aktuell (4): 54-57. http://www.aquaristik-online.de/index_aquaristik.html  Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2008.FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication.  www.fishbase.org, version (11/2008).