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Four-lined PimodellaFlat-nosed Catfish - Antenna Catfish - Dusky PimelodidFamily: Pimelodidae Pimelodus blochiiPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy David BroughLatest Reader Comment - See More My four line cat fish is 15 inches long. In the wild four line cat fish grow up to 7 feet.
Jason The Four-lined Pimodella is a very handsome and hardy fish! It is also a peaceful fish as long as it is kept with tankmates too big for it to eat!Four-lined Pimodella Contents What's in a name?... Pimelodus means "fat tooth"! This catfish locates its' food by smell and by feeling it with its antennae. The Four-lined Pimodella especially likes worms of all kinds and some of its favorites are bloodworms and earthworms. The spine on the dorsal fin has a saw-edged tip that acts like a barbed hook. It used to be said that the dorsal spine of the Four-lined Pimodella is poisonous and should be avoided. Recently though several authors have said this is probably not true. The Four-lined Pimodella swims in the lower portion or bottom of the aquarium and should be provided places to hide during the day. Only occasionally will it go to the surface to breath air through its intestinal respiratory system. These fish can also be kept in brackish water. In oxygen depleted waters, the Four-lined Pimodella can change almost entirely to surface breathing! For more Information on keeping this fish see: |
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Habitat: Distribution / Background
The Four-lined Pimodella was described by Valenciennes in Cuvier & Valenciennes in 1840, They are found in South America in most larger rivers from Panama to Brazil.
- Scientific Name: Pimelodus blochii
- Social Grouping: Solitary - Can be kept in pairs or groups but some aggression may result.
- IUCN Red List: NE - Not Evaluated or not listed
The Four Line Pimodella has a shiny silver body with black spotting and lines running horizontally from the gills to the caudal peduncle The dorsal and pectoral fins have spines that can cause puncture wounds. The spines will get caught in most nets so it is advisable to catch them using glass or plastic containers. It will reach up to 8 inches in length, and is a nocturnal fish so will most likely come out at night or while being fed. Since it is a smooth skin catfish, treatments for parasites, such as ich, that contain copper cannot be used.
- Maximum Size: 12.0 inches (30.48 cm)
- Aquarium Hardiness: Moderately hardy
- Aquarist Experience Level: Intermediate
Four-lined Pimodella are omnivorous but prefer meaty foods, especially worms. As juveniles, they will generally eat all kinds of live, fresh, and flake foods. To keep a good balance give them a high quality flake food or pellet everyday. They like opaque, blackwater such as is found in slow moving parts of the Amazon.
- Diet Type: Omnivore
- Flake Food: Yes
- Tablet Pellet: Yes
- Live foods (fishes, shrimps, worms): Some of Diet
- Vegetable Food: Some of Diet
- Meaty Food: Some of Diet
- Feeding Frequency: Several feedings per day
- Water Changes: Bi-weekly
- Minimum Tank Size: 45 gal (170 L)
- Substrate Type: Any
- Lighting Needs: Low - subdued lighting
- Temperature: 79.0 - 82.0° F (26.1 - 27.8° C)
- Range ph: 5.5-6.8
- Hardness Range: 30 - 2 dGH
- Brackish: Sometimes - This fish tolerates brackish water although it is unclear if this is preferable to it on the long term.
- Water Movement: Moderate
- Water Region: Bottom
The Four-lined Pimodella are generally a good community fish with tankmates their own size, or larger. They will nip at the fins of tankmates of the same species. Don't keep with fish that are much smaller since they are predaceous.
- Venomous: Unknown - There is conflicting literature on the subject of the possibility of this fish having venom in its spines.
- Temperament: Peaceful - Some fish will be bullies although it seems to be overall an agreeable fish.
- Compatible with:
- Same species - conspecifics: Sometimes
- Peaceful fish (): Safe - Smaller fish may be eaten.
- Semi-Aggressive: (): Monitor
- Aggressive: (): Threat
- Shrimps, Crabs, Snails: Safe - not aggressive
- Plants: Safe
Not known.
The Four-lined Pimodella have not been successfully bred in aquariums.
- Ease of Propagation: Unknown - This fish has yet to bred in home aquaria.
The Four-lined Pimodella is readily available and is inexpensive.
Animal-World References
Freshwater Fish and Plants
Tropical Fish ~ Freshwater Fish ~ Aquatic Plants
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