Anyone Keep Ornate Pims?

[DB junkie]

Curious IF anyone keeps these things?????

How old are they? How big? Kept in groups? Do other fish snack on them?

I have some I'd like to add to a tank with bigger fish, don't want them to become exotic, expensive feeders......

 

[moe214]

I'd treat them like a slimmer more group orientated 4-line pim.

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

It seems they are rarely kept. I think I only came across 1-2 reports on adults. I had tried once with 3 of them in my prior life in Rochester, NY but lost them soon thereafter during a move 5 years ago.

I got 2 from Rapps several months ago at ~2". They are ~4"-5" now.

They are easy, not fussy, as Moe said perhaps more gregarious than their close cousins Pimelodus blochii and Co.

I think adults of ornatus and blochii feature the same bulk but that's going off very vague memory.

Your question goes more toward those larger fish that may prey on them. I'd treat them as blochii for these intents - if your present fish can potentially prey on blochii, they would prey on ornatus too.

My couple are in a 240 gal with larger tankmates that may be a risk - three 8" Sperata aor, two 6"-7" temensis pbass, and 10" wels but so far they have been ok.

 

[moe214]

Curious IF anyone keeps these things?????

How old are they? How big? Kept in groups? Do other fish snack on them?

I have some I'd like to add to a tank with bigger fish, don't want them to become exotic, expensive feeders......

If you don't mind sharing, what are you planning on adding it with and the sizes of everyone including the ornatus

 

[DB junkie]

I've got this (what I believe to be) sweet 300 in my living room.

Problem is I can't justify the stock bio load vs the filtration on the tank. Well, as luck has it the fish hate each other anyways so I need to shuffle them....

Current fish -
(8) 4" tiger dollars
(3) 6" silver ddollars
(5) 7-9" Odoe
(1) 16" Black Aro
(1) 15" Jar
(1) 18" Royal Knife
(3) 6-8" rays
(1) 13" Gatf

Black Aro has been the big baby of the tank. His fins are all "F"ed up after the knife and Jar. Thinking Knife Jar and Gatf go to the 750 and hopefully peace resumes in the 300......

Problem is 750 Don't take no shibby. Last knife that messed with the 2' Wolf we call Lucy got to look at her throat first hand when she clamped onto his head. Dorado isn't going to take lightly to a Jardini..... But I bet the Gatf would hit a growth spurt........

After snatching them out of the 300 I think it might look a lil bare. That group of 5 Pims really liven things up when they go rippin through the bottom in a group.... Would be adding the 5 Pims to the 300. Guessing them to be around 7-8"?

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

Well, that is always-a-gamble kind of a list, requiring trial and error and everyday vigilance. IMHO. Sorry about stating the obvious.

In the current list, I'd, again, obviously be concerned about the two arowanas and the knife preying on ornate pims if these were 6" or under. 7" perhaps would be borderline safe, at least of a very good chance of not being subjected to test-tasting.

 

[DB junkie]

Well, I went ahead an moved them. Really had no choice -awoke to find a baby ray this morning! So in order for me to feel comfy leaving that baby ray and coming to work I had to move the Pims. Nabbed all 5 Pims and dripped them at the 300 while I moved the Jardini and Gatf to the 750. Both seem fine - was going to drip them but after several attempts to jump through the tote lid I just flopped them. Decided against the Royal knife going to the big tank due to the big wolf not really being a fan of knife fish...... Will get some pics up soon as I get some of the algae knocked off and can see in the tank..... lol

 

[moe214]

Man we need an update in the characin forum DB! But only thing you have to worry about is the knife. I don't think their mouths are very big, but ornatus are slender so if it manages to get it down past the pectoral fins you might end up with two dead fish. Black aros are the wimps of aros, least aggressive, most slender, you don't have to worry bout them and I'm surprised it lasted with the others. Jars are the meanest of aros, but with the characins you keep they aren't as capable of killing imo, bite strength (assumption here, due to skinny lower jaw) and teeth aren't as great, also not as fast as some, but it's a tough fish. I think it should be fine in the 750, if anything it'll more than likely lose to the dorados or Lucy. The gatf well you've had atf in there so I'll think that'll be fine. Assume you decided against dumping all the atf in the 750 lol probably for the best.

In short, you're only concern should be the knife now for the pims. And the 750, I'd worry for the jar, he may get comfortable and try to dominate others, and we know that won't be taken lightly.

 

[DB junkie]

The more I think about it the more I think the Pims are roughly the same size ( a lil longer if anything) then the group of Odoe in there..... The Odoe would be easier to catch and NO spikey fins to worry about the way down the hatch...... I'm gonnna go out on a limb here and say I'd think the Odoe would be/should be preyed on before the Pims.....

Royal knives seem MUCH more feminine to me compared to Clowns. While the fish may be 16-18" it looks like it still has trouble with an uncut piece of shrimp.... lol. Don't see it downing any tankm ates any time soon.... lol.

I will definitely do an update in the Characin section once I figure out the wolf jigsaw puzzle of who doesn't want to kill who.....

And NO, the Gatf is the first ATF to swim the 750.... Had to get the most passive in first....

 

[moe214]

So then they're more than likely safe. And wolves and their unpredictability lol. And makes sense, get him settled in before the rowdy ones come in, you putting the big mean tatf in there too? That'll be a sight, but also a worry.