Cat-eLog Right Pimelodidae Right Leiarius  |  | 

Down Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name Leiarius pictus  (Müller & Troschel, 1849)
Common Names Sailfin Marbled Catfish
Painted Catfish, Saddle Catfish, Sailfin Pim, Segelantennenwels (Germany)
Type Locality No locality.
Synonym(s) Bagrus pictus, Sciades pictus
Pronunciation pick tuss
Etymology The genus name is derived from Leios, meaning smooth and Arius which is a Greek for "dealing with Mars, warlike, belliose". It's the name of another catfish genus, so the combination is "smooth Arius". This specific epithet literally means painted (pictus=painted) and refers to the spots of the adult of the species.
Articles
Article Link - CotM Right 2003 Right April
Down Species Information
Size 600mm or 23.6" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification This catfish is sometimes confused with Leiarius longibarbis (formerly known as L. marmoratus). The overall body colour of L. pictus is dark brown with darker spots, with a lighter underside colouration. More noticeable in juvenile specimens this catfish has two pale bands, the first extends from the base of the dorsal fine spine toward the ventral fin, and then laterally along the body to the base of the caudal; the second thinner band lies parallel to the first originating from the base of the third to sixth soft dorsal fin rays.
Sexing See the images above of the male and female genital areas. Observation of cpative adult fishes points towards females tending to be more heavily built and robust than the males, which tend to be slender.
Down Habitat Information
Distribution South America: Amazon and Orinoco River basins.
Amazon (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Guyana Waters, Coastal Rivers of Guyanas, Essequibo (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Orinoco (click on these areas to find other species found there)

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IUCN Red List Category Least Concern, range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2020.
pH 6.2 - 7.6
Temperature 22.0-26.0°C or 71.6-78.8°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters Up to 18°dGH
Down Husbandry Information
Feeding Carnivore feeding on a very mixed and varied diet including earthworms, whole prawns, mussels, floating sticks/pellets and catfish pellets. In their natural environment they would feed upon other fish. User data.
Furniture Large, spacious tank with open space for night time cruising. A large shady bogwood root or pipe that the catfish can retreat to during the day is also required. Ensure the heater is in the open and not in a place where the catfish may try and hide.
Compatibility Ideally suited to life with other large fish. These catfish are predatory and will eat smaller fish if hungry.
Suggested Tankmates Other large catfish such as Pseudodoras, Oxydoras, Pterodoras and Megalodoras, Oscars and larger characins.
Breeding There are no known aquarium spawnings of this catfish. This is most likely due to the size that these fish can attain and hence the subsequent size of aquarium in which to spawn them.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Down Further Information
Reference Horae Ichthyologicae No. 3, pp 8.
Registered Keepers There are 20 registered keepers, view all "my cats" data.
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There are 7 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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Last Update 2020 Sep 19 01:40 (species record created: 2001 Apr 22 00:00)