Leiarius pictus • Pimelodidae • Cat-eLog

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Leiarius pictus** (Müller & Troschel, 1849)
Common Name(s)	Painted Catfish, Saddle Catfish, Sailfin Marbled Catfish, Sailfin Pim
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.
Species Information
Size	600mm (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.
Habitat Information
Distribution	Widespread throughout the Amazon and its tributaries, South America. 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) (Click the map-icon to show/hide map of species distribution)
pH	6.2 - 7.6
Temperature	22.0-26.0°C or 71.6-78.8°F (Show others within this range)
Other Parameters	Up to 18°dGH
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.
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.
Further Information
References	Horae Ichthyol.No. 3 - pp8
Registered Keepers	(1) CFC, who also notes: "An extreemly fast growing species reaching full size in just 3 years", (2) arapaima, (3) roy.bryan, (4) watersprite, (5) LUISGOREY, (6) miller, (7) aledk85, (8) tezr, (9) vyperboy, (10) dean30bb, (11) sequoiacat (k: 3), who also notes: "Very peaceful and pleasant large catfish", (12) wonword, (13) Hudson Ensz, (14) Mcjlance (p: 2). Click on a username above to see all that persons registered catfish species. You can also view all "my cats" data for this species.
Breeding Reports	None.
Articles	- CotM 2003 April
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Last Update	2011 Jan 11 23:45 (species record created: 2001 Apr 22 00:00)

Cat-eLog Data Sheet

Scientific Name

Leiarius pictus (Müller & Troschel, 1849)

Common Name(s)

Painted Catfish, Saddle Catfish, Sailfin Marbled Catfish, Sailfin Pim

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.

Species Information

Size

600mm (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.

Habitat Information

Distribution

Widespread throughout the Amazon and its tributaries, South America.
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)

(Click the map-icon to show/hide map of species distribution)

6.2 - 7.6

Temperature

22.0-26.0°C or 71.6-78.8°F (Show others within this range)

Other Parameters

Up to 18°dGH

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.

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.

Further Information

References

Horae Ichthyol.No. 3 - pp8

Registered Keepers

(1) CFC, who also notes: "An extreemly fast growing species reaching full size in just 3 years", (2) arapaima, (3) roy.bryan, (4) watersprite, (5) LUISGOREY, (6) miller, (7) aledk85, (8) tezr, (9) vyperboy, (10) dean30bb, (11) sequoiacat (k: 3), who also notes: "Very peaceful and pleasant large catfish", (12) wonword, (13) Hudson Ensz, (14) Mcjlance (p: 2).

Click on a username above to see all that persons registered catfish species. You can also view all "my cats" data for this species.

Breeding Reports

None.

Articles