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he month of July 2012 brings us back to one of the prettiest member of the Pimeloidae family, namely the 'Ornate pim' Pimelodus ornatus.

Pimelodus ornatus

As you can see from the image above this is indeed a smart looking catfish which has been imported into the U. K. and Europe on and off since 1979, initially from Paraguay, and has proved a favourite amongst dedicated predatory catfish enthusiasts.

Keeping the 'Ornate pim' is not too difficult as long as you stick to a few golden rules such as the size of tank which should be around 100 gall. (500 litres) mark due to its eventual size and the fish constantly on the move as a group, as single specimens are never happy alone and will spend a good amount of time hiding away and sulking in the aquarium.

Since the species originates from flowing waters, the water should be clear and with a high oxygen content, good filtration and a substrate of a rounded gravel or sand with plenty of hiding places with pipes or rockwork/stones. If there are plenty of places to hide they will lose their initial shyness and come out more often.

Since they roam the aquarium at night with their long feeling barbels they can upset other tank inhabitants so other inmates would have to be chosen carefully. South American Cichlids, L-number cats and other catfish from the Doradidae family are good choices.

Pimelodus ornatus - can devour quite large pieces of fish

The above image shows the mouth of Pimelodus ornatus and the gape which can take small fish if it needed to so once again careful consideration of tankmates are a must.

If at all handled they secrete a toxic mucus and the wounds caused by its pectoral spines are very painful. There spines can also be tangled up in a net if catching so best to do it with an open ended container.

Ornate pim

Megalonema rhabdostigma

Pimelodidinae

South America: Amazon, Corintijns, Essequibo, Orinoco, and Paraná River basins. Also in major rivers of  the Guianas.

38.5cm. (15½ins)

24-25°C (75-77°F)

Slender and elongate body and the head is depressed. Upper jaw projects beyond the lower jaw. The maxillary barbels when laid back reach beyond the adipose fin and sometimes reach the tip of the caudal fin.

Not suited to be housed with smaller species but should fit in with South American Cichlids, L-number cats and members of the Doradidae family.

Allegedly the species breeds by internal fertilisation and the female places the fertilised eggs on stones and plants. As this is a migratory breeder you would need to be very lucky to achieve this.

Not reported but I would imagine that the females would be more rotund.

Gregarious feeders in the aquarium and are not fussy eaters. Earthworms, white and black worms, Tilapia filets, or trout pieces, tablet and pellet foods and frozen foods such as bloodworm. When adult you do not need to feed this fish every day, every second day would suffice on the diet of the above foods.

Adipose fin: Fleshy finlike projection without rays, behind the rayed dorsal fin.
Anal fin: The fin forward from the anal cavity.
Caudal fin: The tail.
Caudal peduncle: The area between the dorsal fin and the tail.
Dorsal fin: The primary rayed fin(s) on top of the body.
Lateral line: A sensory line, along the sides of the body.
Mandibular barbels: Pertaining to the lower jaw. (mandibular barbels).
Maxillary barbels: Pertaining to the upper jaw. (maxillary barbels).
Operculum: The bony covering of the gills of fishes.
Pectoral fin: The paired fins after head and before anal fin.
Ventral fin: The paired fins, between the pectorals and the anal fins.

Pimelodus: Pimel = fat; odus = tooth.
ornatus: Ornate; decorated.

Lambourne, Derek: Catfish Association of Great Britain; Information Sheet, April 1978.
Ros, Wolfgang (2008): Ein Schmuckstück im Aquarium: Der Raubwels Pimelodus ornatus, Aquaristik- Aktuell (4): 54-57.
Sands, David: Catfishes of the World, Volume Three: Auchenipteridae & Pimelodidae.Dunure Publications 1984, 145p.

Photo Credits

© Wolfgang Ros @