Remarks: The Pimelodella genus is one that is rarely seen in the hobby which is unfortunate as they are very fascinating to observe when active. They bear a heavy resemblance both in appearance and behavior to their more common relatives, the pictus catfish, which belong to the Pimelodus genus. A trait commonly used to differentiate between the two genera is the shape and size of the adipose fin. In Pimelodus this fin is short in length, tall, and triangular while in Pimelodella this fin is long, short in height, and rounded. Pimelodella catfish have elongated and streamlined bodies clearly built for speed that shows when they zip about the tanks when being fed or after the lights have gone out. Their long whiskers give them an elegant look as well. Members of this genus look heavily similar to one another making it very difficult to determine species. We believe the one we currently have is Pimelodella gracilis based upon its long body, deep divide in the caudal fin, and the long, thin black stripe running the length of the fish starting at the gill plate and ending at the tail. Pimelodella catfish primarily are found in South America, specifically in the Orinoco, Amazon and La Plata basins, though one species can be found in Central America in Panama and Costa Rica. Their natural habitats consist of areas with heavy flow resulting in very clean, clear, and well oxygenated waters. These conditions along with a low conductivity/hardness and a low to neutral pH should be replicated within the home aquarium to help the pimelodella catfish thrive. This can further be ensured by providing a varied diet high in protein as they naturally prey on insect larvae as well as small crustaceans and fish. In the wild, they travel in large schools so they should be kept in groups of 5 or more provided there is plenty of territory space. Being kept in groups as well as being provided plenty of dark caves to hide in will help encourage these nocturnal catfish to come out of hiding more often. While pimelodella catfish are fairly peaceful toward anything that can’t fit in their mouths, if not kept in groups they can become very aggressive and nippy toward other tankmates. These active catfish can make a great addition of excitement and action to the bottom of a tank full of larger South American species such as uaru because they can hold their own and get large enough to not be swallowed. Overall, we hope these catfish can be an interesting alternative to the more common pictus catfish with their charming personalities and high activity levels.
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