White Line Pim

About

Found threading through the fast-moving channels of the Amazon, Orinoco, and upper Corantijn and Sipaliwini river systems, Pimelodus albofasciatus is a mid-sized South American pimelodid catfish that brings genuine wild-river energy into a large aquarium. It carries the classic pimelodid body plan: a streamlined, somewhat compressed frame, prominent barbels that it uses to navigate and forage, and a patterning of pale bands or markings against a darker base that helps break up its silhouette in dappled, current-swept water. Adults grow to a solid size, pushing close to a foot in the right conditions, so this is not a fish you can tuck into a modest setup and forget about. It needs genuine swimming room and appreciates good water movement that mimics its native habitats. In terms of temperament, it behaves much like its pimelodid cousins. Active and opportunistic, willing to share space with similarly sized tankmates but not to be trusted around anything small enough to fit in its mouth. An omnivore by nature, it accepts a wide range of meaty and prepared foods without fuss. This is a fish for the keeper who already has some experience with large, active catfish and is ready to meet its need for space and flow.