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Scientific Name Pimelodus maculatus  Lacepède, 1803
Common Names Spotted Pimelodus
Fleckenantennenwels (Germany), Langskægget Malle (Denmark), Spotted Pim
Type Locality Río de La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Synonym(s) Pimelodus clarias maculatus
Pronunciation pim ee LOW duss - mak yule at uss
Etymology (Greek)Pimele=Fat + (Greek)odous=teeth. This specific epithet refers to its spotted(maculatus=spotted) appearance.
Hop to next section Species Information
Size 368mm or 14.5" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification A pretty species with a large blotch patterning which covers the whole body of the fish.
Sexing Not known.
Hop to next section Habitat Information
Distribution South America: Paraná and São Francisco River basins.
La Plata, Paraná (click on these areas to find other species found there)
São Francisco (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Rio Grande Do Sul State Waters, Laguna dos Patos, Guaíba (click on these areas to find other species found there)
La Plata, Uruguay, Upper Uruguay, Pelotas (click on these areas to find other species found there)
La Plata, Uruguay, Middle Uruguay (click on these areas to find other species found there)
La Plata, Paraná, Upper Paraná, Grande (Parana basin), Pardo (São Paulo, Rio Grande) (click on these areas to find other species found there)

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IUCN Red List Category Least Concern, range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2018.
pH 6.4 - 7.4
Temperature 20.0-24.0°C or 68-75.2°F (Show species within this range)
Hop to next section Husbandry Information
Feeding An unfussy omnivore. Most prepared foods are taken and the fish will happily gorge itself on live or frozen foods. Bloodworm induces a feeding frenzy and is good for acclimatizing new, smaller acquisitions. The fish will eat huge amounts in one day, its belly swelling to resemble a marble and can comfortably live off this for up to a week. User data.
Furniture These fish will be considerably more active if given lots of cover at the sides of the aquarium that they can dart into when spooked. Floating plants are also a good idea as water current is unimportant.
Compatibility Peaceful but will eat smaller fishes.
Suggested Tankmates Larger active fish such as tetras, most barbs and gouramis. They can also be kept in groups but do not suffer from being kept singly. Angelfish and other ''graceful'' fish are sometimes bothered by this species' barbels particularly during ''lights-out''.
Breeding Unreported in the aquarium.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Hop to next section Further Information
Reference Histoire naturelle des poissons (Lacepède) v. 5, pp 94, 103
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.
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Last Update 2021 Sep 01 14:51 (species record created: 2001 Apr 22 00:00)