I was looking at some pictus at the store the other day, and was wondering about how you guys liked them. Should they be kept in pairs or singley. thanks
Pictus Catfish
- Thread starter williedee
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I keep 3 in a 55g, but thats probably too much...they have big mouths and eat small fish
they are very active so watch whats in with them, your current stocking would be ok
they are very active so watch whats in with them, your current stocking would be ok
I've read you can keep them in groups when they're smaller and they will act like cory catfish, but once they get bigger they will become highly territorial
I don't really know if its true, so I only got one, he was happy and very active.
He died though when I was treating sick fish, he ate all the extra food I was feeding for my pleco, and I found him floating... So be careful with feeding, cause they will eat anything, and I mean anything, and they don't stop! I was feeding mine crane larvae from the yard, flake food, algae wafers, shrimp pellets... it was really fun, and he was like a shark when it came to eating. He'd smell it right off and start swimming really fast and hunt the food down.
At least he died doing what he loved!
Oh yeah, as said they eat smaller fish, so most tetras etc will be gone eventually - if you want only bigger fish, I say they're definitely worth it.
I don't really know if its true, so I only got one, he was happy and very active.
He died though when I was treating sick fish, he ate all the extra food I was feeding for my pleco, and I found him floating... So be careful with feeding, cause they will eat anything, and I mean anything, and they don't stop! I was feeding mine crane larvae from the yard, flake food, algae wafers, shrimp pellets... it was really fun, and he was like a shark when it came to eating. He'd smell it right off and start swimming really fast and hunt the food down.
At least he died doing what he loved!
Oh yeah, as said they eat smaller fish, so most tetras etc will be gone eventually - if you want only bigger fish, I say they're definitely worth it.
I also wanted to get one a while back since they are small and active.. but active is the part that makes them stand out and require more attention.. Since they are overly active they need a big tank to have room to dart around and not crash into anything. so sadly with my 29g they are not compatible
ok thanks a bunch. they look really cool and active. do you think i should still have a school of cories in the tank if i were to get a pictus? thanks
Cory have the sharp spines like a pictus, I imagine they'd be fine, even if the pictus got big enough to eat them, I think after one attempt he'd never mess with them again.
He probably wouldn't even try anyways, they usually hunt at night, which makes tetra and other small fish very vulnerable because when they're sleeping he'll swallow them.
He probably wouldn't even try anyways, they usually hunt at night, which makes tetra and other small fish very vulnerable because when they're sleeping he'll swallow them.
A Pictus should do alright with a small group of Cories and about them eating smaller fish, not entirely true, I've had young cichlid fry in my community tank, about the size of a small neon tetra, Pictus showed absolutely no interest in them.
They're a predator, and the most likely scenario is that the cichlid spines make an uncomfortable meal, which would be similar to a cory's spines.
I have a single eight inch long Pictus catfish. It won't touch my tiny ottos, but danios didn't last a night. I can't explain it.
Mine is five years old. If I had three at this age, I wouldn't have room for them in my 55.
Mine is five years old. If I had three at this age, I wouldn't have room for them in my 55.