AquaticRepublic.com - Leiarius pictus (Pimelodidae) All Fishes

35cm SL
Video
Juvenile
Close-up of head and dorsal fin
Close-up of barbels
Close-up of male genital area
Close-up of female genital area
35cm SL
Close-up of head

All Fishes 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.
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.
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) Login to view the map.
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
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.
Further Information
Reference	Horae Ichthyologicae No. 3, pp 8.
Registered Keepers	There is no registered keeper.
Wishlists	Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list. There is no wish to keep this species.
Spotters	Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars! There are 6 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
Forum BBCode

	Look up L. pictus on PlanetCatfish.com
	Look up L. pictus on Fishbase
	Look up L. pictus on Encyclopedia of Life
	Look up L. pictus on Global Biodiversity Information Facility
	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.15.92.290
Last Update	2020 Sep 19 01:40 (species record created: 2001 Apr 22 00:00)