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he specific name of "maculatus" is of course common and synonymous with the latin interpretation meaning "spotted" and there a few catfish species over the 36 or so families to date that bare this specific epithet. This month we are concentrating on a member of the Pimelodidae family, namely Pimelodus maculatus.

Pimelodus maculatus

This species is not seen too often in the hobby which is a shame as it is a very nice looking pim and they also have a great variety of colour and spotted markings in individual specimens. The one thing going against them is its relatively large adult standard length size of 36.0cm. (14ins) (although it may not grow to this size in captivity) which would rule it out of most aquarists who like this family considering that most members of this genera prefer to be in groups, so a large aquarium of 6' 0" x 2" x 2" would need to be the norm although a lone specimen can be kept in a smaller tank although you would not see it very often as it will hide away without company of its own kind.

Pimelodus maculatus - specimen caught near Carmen del Paraná, Paraguay

One of the identification marks for this species, apart from the heavy spotting on the body, is the shape of the adipose fin which slopes down at the rear in line with the last ray of the anal fin and close to the caudal peduncle. It is also quite a deep bodied species (Grant, S. 2021).

Distrbution: Paraná and São Francisco River basins. Type locality: Le grand fleuve de la Plata, Buénos-Ayres, ainsi qu’à la Encenada.

Spotted Pim

Pimelodus clarias maculatus

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South America: Paraná and São Francisco River basins. Type locality: Le grand fleuve de la Plata, Buénos-Ayres, ainsi qu’à la Encenada.

36.0cm. SL. (14ins)

20-24°C (67-75°F)

Deep body with a long based adipose fin which slopes down at the rear in line with the last ray of the anal fin and close to the caudal peduncle. Three pairs of long slender barbels. Short anal fin base. Strong pectoral and dorsal fin spines with pectoral fin spine strongly serrated.

Quite a pretty looking member of the Pimelodidae family which can grow quite large for your average community tank so would need a tank of at least 6' 0" (180cm) long if kept in a group. Provide hiding places for this 'pim' and you will be able to see it on the odd occasions when food is introduced. Peaceful species but not to be trusted with small fish such as tetras as they will pick them of at night on their forays so they must be kept with species that are two thirds of its size or larger. It is compatible with barbs, gouramis, cichlids and other South American catfish. One must lookout for the serrated pectorals which can cause injury if handled carelessly. A glass container would be best if you have to move this species instead of a net.

Not reported but it is a migratory species which tells us that they may spawn in their chosen spawning grounds between the months of July to November in low waters.

Not reported but females may grow larger and more rotund, especially in the breeding season.

In their natural habitat the analysis shows that the main food item for fish in the smaller size classes is aquatic insects, while the largest individuals feed mainly on other fish. In the aquarium most aquarium fare such as tablet, flake, worm and frozen foods would suffice.

Adipose fin: Fleshy finlike projection without rays, behind the rayed dorsal fin.
Anal fin: The median, unpaired, ventrally located fin that lies behind the anus, usually on the posterior half of the fish.
Barbels: Whisker-like structure on the heads of most catfish.
Caudal fin: The tail.
Dorsal fin: The primary rayed fin(s) on top of the body.
Pectoral fins: The paired fins just behind the head.

Pimelodus: Pimel = fat; odus = tooth.
maculatus: Spotted.

Baensch, H.A. and R. Riehl 1985 Aquarien atlas. Band 2. Mergus, Verlag für Natur- und Heimtierkunde GmbH, Melle, Germany. 1216 p.
Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2007. Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa 1418:1-628.
Grant, Steven. 2021. Pims. Pimelodidae, Heptapteridae and Pseudopimelodidae Catfishes. ATS-Aquashop.de 2021 219p.
Lima-Junior, S.E., Goitein, R. Ontogenetic Diet Shifts of a Neotropical Catfish, Pimelodus maculatus (Siluriformes, Pimelodidae): An Ecomorphological Approach. Environmental Biology of Fishes 68, 73–79 (2003).
Sands, David. Catfishes of the World, Vol 3 Auchenipteridae & Pimelodidae, Dunure Publications 1984.
Sands, David. Back to Nature Guide to Catfishes. Fohrman Aquaristik AB 1997. 128p.

Photo Credits

© Johnny Jensen © 
© Julio Endler