Reticulated catfish

Perrunichthys perruno

Also known as Leopard catfish, Reticulated pim, Perruno catfish

FreshwaterFish

Reticulated catfish (Perrunichthys perruno) — Guérin Nicolas · CC BY-SA 3.0

Care at a glance

Temperature: 72–79°F (22–26°C)
pH: 6.0–7.2
Adult size: 23.6 in (60 cm)
Minimum tank: 185 gal (700 L)
Temperament: Mostly peaceful
Social behavior: Solitary
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Difficult
Breeding: No record
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Native to the Lake Maracaibo and Orinoco basins of Venezuela and Colombia.
Family: Pimelodidae

Overview

This is a large, striking predator that grows quickly and reaches around 60 cm, so it needs a tank of at least 700 liters, big filtration, and generous weekly water changes. It is fairly peaceful for its size but is a nocturnal hunter that will eat any tankmate it can swallow, so only keep it with large, robust fish. It is usually maintained as a single specimen. Feed meaty foods like fish, prawns, mussel, and earthworms, weaning it onto sinking pellets over time.

In the wild

The reticulated catfish comes from the Lake Maracaibo and Orinoco basins, living in slower stretches of river and flooded margins and hunting at night. It is a large, nocturnal predator that hides in wood and shade by day. Give it a big tank with a soft floor, large driftwood, and one solid retreat, with clean, soft, slightly acidic water at 22 to 26 degrees C and strong filtration.

Good to know

Perrunichthys perruno grows to about 60 cm, with some individuals passing 62 cm, and is the only species in its genus. It wears a bold reticulated leopard pattern of dark blotches on a pale body. It is a fast grower, capable of exceeding 30 cm in its first year, and is intolerant of poor water quality.

Did you know

Its leopard-like reticulated pattern makes it one of the most beautiful large pimelodids, but that same fish can outgrow 30 cm in its first year, so the beauty comes with a fast countdown to needing a huge tank.