All fish / Pimelodidae

Spotted Pim

Pimelodus maculatus

Also known as yellow mandi, spotted catfish, mandi, pintado pim, spotted pimelodus, pimelodus catfish, ピメロドゥス・マクラートゥス, 斑点长须鲶

A sturdy long-whiskered catfish with a yellowish to silvery body marked with rows of dark spots and a deeply forked tail. It is kept for its active, mostly nocturnal habits and hardiness, and it is a common food fish in southern South America.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

30 cm

Temperature

20 to 28 °C

pH

6 to 8

Smallest tank

600 litres

Keep as

Small group of 3 or more in a large tank, or singly

Diet

Omnivore: sinking pellets, prawns, mussel, earthworms, fish fillet and some vegetable matter

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 15 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Paraná, Paraguay, Uruguay and São Francisco river basins (Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay)

Breeding

It is a migratory egg scatterer that spawns in rivers during the wet season. Breeding in home aquariums has not been reported, and trade fish are wild caught or farm bred with hormones.

Good to know

It grows much larger than juveniles suggest and will eat any fish that fits in its mouth. The fin spines are sharp and mildly venomous, so handle with care and avoid netting it carelessly.