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Sorubim lima
Fishes › Catfish (Siluriformes) › Pimelodidae (Long-whiskered catfish)
Sorubim lima is a species of fish of the Pimelodidae family in the order Siluriformes.
Intro from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Care at a glance
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 84 in long and 42 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 21.3 in / 54.2 cm).
- Water: Freshwater.
- Temperature: 73–86°F (range recorded for this species).
- pH: 6.5–7.8.
- Hardness: 0–20 dGH.
- Layout: Lives on or near the bottom: floor space and hiding places matter more than height.
- Diet: A predator: feed meaty foods sized to its mouth (frozen fish, shrimp, worms); it will eat tankmates that fit in its mouth. FishBase classes it as a carnivore.
Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.
Care guide
Species care notes
- Tank: a base of at least 79 × 30 in (roughly 297 US gallons); space needed is rated “very large tank”.
- Water: 74–86 °F, 1–20 dGH.
- Behaviour: temperament peaceful.
- Difficulty: Moderate (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “This species is nocturnal and a dimly-lit tank with substrate of soft sand suits it best.”
- Diet: “Almost exclusively carnivorous preying on smaller fishes, crustaceans, invertebrates, etc.”
- Tankmates: “Anything that can fit inside its mouth should not be considered but it's otherwise quite peaceful.”
- Breeding: “Little has been established regarding the reproductive biology of Sorubim spp.”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
Long-whiskered catfish
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: South American pimelodids occupy river channels and tributaries, with redtails and shovelnoses also using flooded forests. [fg178-pictus, fg178-redtail, fg178-sorubim]. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- For P. pictus, use at least 120 × 45 × 45 cm (about 243 L), with open swimming space.
- Adult redtails and P. fasciatum require facility-scale housing: approximately 360 × 240 × 120 cm (10,368 L) is explicitly only a minimum in the reference.
- Provide dim lighting and appropriately sized shelters; use fine sand for pictus.
- For giant species, secure heavy furnishings and avoid swallowable gravel; bare bottoms or large smooth pebbles are alternatives.
- Use efficient biological filtration, regular partial water changes and, for giants, equipment protected in an external sump.
Climate & lighting
| Water | 71.6–77°F |
Diet
- Pictus: sinking prepared foods and frozen bloodworms.
- Earthworms, sized for the fish.
- Giant predators: prawns and mussels.
- Giant predators: white-fish portions; vary foods and reduce feeding frequency as adults mature.
Social life
- Pictus are shoaling fish, preferably six or more in adequate space; adult redtails and shovelnoses can be territorial towards other large pimelodids. Companions must be too large to swallow.
Health watch
- Barbel erosion with deteriorating water quality.
- White spot and poor condition in newly imported pictus.
- Obesity and fatty organ damage from overfeeding or inappropriate mammal meat.
Understanding the animal
In the wild
In the wild
From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1
| Where it lives | Lives in freshwater, in rivers and streams. Stays near the bottom. Occurs in schools. Is mainly nocturnal. Feeds primarily on fishes and crustaceans. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater, 73–86 °F (23–30 °C), pH 6.5–7.8, hardness 20 dH. |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
| Wild diet | Hunting macrofauna (predator). |
| Behavior to plan for | Breeding: nesters. |
What this means for care
- Keep water within its wild range, 73–86 °F.
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 91°F (up to 94°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 67°F (down to 53°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 72–81°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 73–82% on average (driest month about 69%) |
| Rainfall | about 1818 mm a year |
Measured at 407 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.
From the sources
From the sources
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Overview | Sorubim lima is a species of fish of the Pimelodidae family in the order Siluriformes. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Where it lives | Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase |
| Wild diet | It eats mainly fish and crustaceans. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Appearance and size | Maximum length 54.2 cm tl male/unsexed; maximum published weight 1.3 kg. — FishBase |
| Biology | Adults occur in schools and are mainly nocturnal. They feed primarily on fishes and crustaceans. — FishBase |
Data and studies
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Typical adult weight
Average adult body mass in each database (FishBase gives the maximum recorded weight).
Adult length
Maximum recorded length. Measured as total length. Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.
Water temperature
Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.
pH
Water hardness
Minimum tank footprint
Seriously Fish recommends a tank base of at least 79 × 30 in (about 297 US gallons).
Sources for this sheet
- FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
- Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
- Seriously Fish: Pimelodus pictus Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Seriously Fish: Phractocephalus hemioliopterus Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Seriously Fish: Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- iNaturalist (captive observations) Community referenceCommunity observation platform run by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic; observations marked captive show animals living in homes, zoos and aquariums.
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