All fish / Pimelodidae

Silver Pimelodus

Pimelodus argenteus

Also known as silver pim, silver pimelodus catfish, pimelodus argenteus catfish, silver long-whiskered catfish, 银长须鲶

This is a slim, silvery long-whiskered catfish. It has a tall spiny dorsal fin, a deeply forked tail and very long barbels. It is an active, hardy fish, and keepers of big river-fish tanks like it because it keeps swimming all day and is less spotted than most pims.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

30 cm

Temperature

18 to 26 °C

pH

6.5 to 7.8

Smallest tank

700 litres

Keep as

Small group of 3 or more in a very large tank

Diet

Carnivore: sinking pellets, prawn, mussel, fish fillet and earthworms

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 15 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Paraná, Paraguay and Uruguay river basins and Río de la Plata (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay)

Breeding

In the wild it spawns in groups, scattering its eggs during seasonal migrations up the rivers. There are no reliable reports of it breeding in home aquariums.

Good to know

It grows to around 30 cm or more and will eat any tankmate small enough to swallow. Its fin spines are sharp and can tangle in nets or wound your hands. It is often mixed up with Pimelodus maculatus and P. albicans.