Marbled sailfin pim

Leiarius marmoratus

Also known as Marbled pim, Sailfin marbled pim, Achara catfish

FreshwaterFish

Marbled sailfin pim (Leiarius marmoratus) — Clinton & Charles Robertson · CC BY 2.0

Care at a glance

Temperature: 72–79°F (22–26°C)
pH: 6.0–7.5
Adult size: 39.4 in (100 cm)
Minimum tank: 528 gal (2,000 L)
Temperament: Mostly peaceful
Social behavior: Solitary
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Difficult
Breeding: No record
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Native to the Amazon and Orinoco river basins of South America.
Family: Pimelodidae

Overview

This fish reaches a meter or more, so plan for a tank of at least 2000 liters, effectively a pond or a very large custom build, and a commitment measured in decades. It is fairly peaceful for a giant catfish and will not usually harass tankmates, but it is a predator that swallows anything bite-sized, so only very large companions are safe. It is territorial with other big catfish, so it is normally kept alone. Feed a meaty diet of prawns, fish, earthworms, and large sinking pellets.

In the wild

The marbled sailfin pim is a big Amazon and Orinoco predator of deep river channels and flooded forest, hunting mainly at night. Juveniles carry a bold marbled pattern and a tall dorsal fin. It needs a very large tank with long open swimming lanes, a big cave or shaded retreat, and clean soft to neutral water at 22 to 26 degrees C.

Good to know

Leiarius marmoratus grows to a little over 100 cm, making it noticeably larger than the similar-looking Leiarius pictus, which it is regularly confused with in the trade. It is a long-lived pimelodid that can survive several decades. Its striking juvenile markings mute into a marbled brown as it matures.

Did you know

It is sold interchangeably with the smaller sailfin pim, but this species keeps growing well past a meter, so a mislabeled purchase can leave a keeper with a far bigger fish than they bargained for.