TankBud

Four-line pimelodus

Pimelodus albofasciatus

Also known as Four line pim

FreshwaterFish

Four-line pimelodus (Pimelodus albofasciatus)

Care at a glance

Temperature
73–82°F
23–28°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
11.8 in
30 cm
Minimum tank
106 gal
400 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Rare
Family
Pimelodidae
Origin
Guiana Shield rivers and upper Orinoco

Overview

The four-line pimelodus is an active, schooling catfish that needs a big tank with open swimming lanes. It is a step up from the easiest catfish.

Did you know

The four-line pimelodus has the same darting, striped shape as the little pictus catfish, at more than twice the length. Buyers who fall for a tank of pictus sometimes graduate to it by accident.

Caring for the four-line pimelodus

Give a group of four-line pimelodus a long tank of at least 106 gal (400 L) with a secure lid. They swim hard, so leave open lanes over a soft, sandy floor. Add driftwood and rockwork for daytime shade.

Keep the water warm and soft to neutral, at 73 to 82°F (23 to 28°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Run steady, well-oxygenated flow. These active catfish need clean, oxygen-rich water, so keep nitrate down with regular changes. Feed sinking pellets, frozen bloodworm and prawn, and chopped meaty foods.

It is happiest in a group of five or more, which cruise the lower half of the tank together. It is peaceful toward fish it cannot eat, but it is an efficient hunter of anything small. Choose sturdy midwater and bottom fish of similar size as tank mates, nothing neon-sized. No aquarium spawning has been recorded.

Good to know

Pimelodus albofasciatus is a pimelodid whose name means white-banded, for the pale stripes running the length of its silver, fine-scaled body. Like its relatives, it carries stiff, barbed spines in the dorsal and pectoral fins that can lock erect. Four-line pimelodus in the trade are wild-caught.

In the wild

The four-line pimelodus comes from Guiana Shield rivers and the upper Orinoco. It ranges along river margins, where it forages after dark.

Common questions

What size tank does a four-line pimelodus need?

A four-line pimelodus needs at least 106 gal (400 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a four-line pimelodus need?

A four-line pimelodus is comfortable at 73–82°F (23–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a four-line pimelodus eat?

A four-line pimelodus eats sinking pellets, frozen bloodworm and prawn, and chopped meaty foods. It is also an efficient hunter of anything small.

How big does a four-line pimelodus get?

An adult four-line pimelodus reaches about 11.8 in (30 cm).

Does a four-line pimelodus need a group?

Yes. A four-line pimelodus is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.

Related species