4-line pictus...

[DiN BLiX]

I recently added this guy to my 29 gallon heavily planted tank. But i have a problem and a question. problem: one of my platys tries to school with it, and the cat fish slap him with his feelers, now the platys acts sick (this went on for about 2 days). question: does the four line shock other fish with its feelers or does it secrete some kind of toxin with them? a girl at my LFS said she has had to grab them off the floor before and her whole arm goes numb after touching it, so I think it does one of the two but have been unable to find more info on the type of catfish.

[daveedka]

I've kept Pictus for years and don't honestly know if they have a toxin or not, but I do know that any catfish stab is a painfull experience, and sommething as small as a platy getting nailed by a pictus would have a tough time recovering no matter what. If they carried enough venom to make a human arm go numb, I would imagine the palty wouldn't last more than a few minutes though so I doubt there is a toxin involved.

[MamaBarb]

Perhaps the person at your LFS has spent too much time around open tubes of silicone:D

Pictus don't "sting" nor are they venemous or electrified, but as daveedka pointed out - being stabbed by the spines in the pec fins can be very painful.

Go here for more info on pictus:

http://www.planetcatfish.com/

As for the platy acting sick for a couple of days - it could have been the stress of adding the new fish, or some bug that came in with the new guy. Add some stresscoat and see what happens.

Goodluck

[DiN BLiX]

I think my platy is just retarded, he looks like hes trying to mimic the catfish now.

[daveedka]

well, Good news if he's still alive and not showing any damage, he's probably fine physically. As far as retrded, that wouldn't suprise me with a platy all :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

[jamzwayne]

I HAD 2 pictus. :(
When I first got them, I made the mistake of using a net. One got his fin caught in the net (or better yet, I got his fin caught in the net).

~Anyway~

I had to get him "unstuck". I got finned by the lil booger (man they're as quick as a waterbug, huh) when he thrashed in my hand. I dont remember getting sick, none of my body parts went numb, and I am obviously still alive.

I dont go by what my LFS says. If I have a question or concern...I find the correct answer RIGHT HERE!

[DiN BLiX]

Took the pictus back to the LFS the other day, he was gettting to big already (almost duobled in size). replaced him with a 4 julii-cory cleaning crew, i like them alot better, much more active and they dont try to kill other fish. The last straw was when the pictus ATE a brand new pair if red wag platys.

[LindaD]

I read your thread the other day but I was pressed for time. I was going to mention the fact that they will eat small tankmates. And they get too large for a 29g. My 4-line was 8 inches when I returned him to the lfs for constantly harrassing my 4 inch oscar, anything smaller than he was seemed to be a target. He also moved alot of my decor around, so in a planted tank it would have been up-rooting all your plants once it got larger. Beautiful fish though.. Here's an old pic of mine...

http://67.18.37.14/95/148/upload/p411297.jpg

[DiN BLiX]

When i get my DREAM 250+gallon tank maybe ill get another.

[jamzwayne]

I hear that DiN BLiX.....I would LOVE a 250. My 55 is cool and all, but a 250...

WOO-HOO ! ! !