Pimelodus blochii Breeding Guide

Pimelodus blochii is a migratory river catfish that spawns externally with huge egg counts and is not bred in home aquaria.

Overview

Pimelodus blochii is a gregarious long-whiskered catfish of the family Pimelodidae, found across the Gulf of Paria and the Amazon, Corantijn, Essequibo and Orinoco basins of South America. According to FishBase it reaches about 35 cm total length and occupies freshwater and brackish lower river reaches, often sheltering under submerged wood.

Spawning Behavior & Trigger

FishBase reports that the species probably migrates upstream during reproduction, with the female laying an average of about 50,000 eggs that are fertilised externally. This very high fecundity, broadcast spawning and long-distance migration are tied to seasonal river cycles rather than aquarium conditions.

Egg & Fry Care

As a broadcast spawner with externally fertilised eggs and enormous clutch sizes, the species provides no parental care and relies on river flow to disperse eggs and larvae. There is no documented home-aquarium fry-rearing protocol.