Cardinal tetra tankmates

F

flyinfishman

AC Members
Feb 8, 2005
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Hello,
I just set up a new 29G 3 weeks ago, plants, driftwood.

There is a Pictus cat in there about 3 inches long.

There are 5 Silver Hatchetfish (the large ones- no grey stripe)
He is oblivious to those fish and all he wants to do is swim like mad.
I swear he's on catfish crack (he needs catnip to mellow out)

Will this pictus eat Cardinal tetras?
I was thinking of eventually putting 6 in the tank to complete it out, but don't want to risk them being eaten.

I've also read and been told different things as to how big Pictus cats get..some have said 4-5" some say 7-8"

When all is done I would like to have the 5 silver hatchets, 6 cardinals and one bottom dweller, but the jury is still out on the pictus.

thanks in advance for any advice!
 
in a 29 gallon, i think it will get up to 5,6, or 7 inches. they will eat anything that can fit in their mouths, and they have huge mouths. I would definitely watch out.
 
If you feed your pictus well he could get up to 10 inches and if he does he would need a seventy gallon. Yeah, he will eat rummy nose, or any other tetras that size. I suggest returning the pictus and getting a small pleco ( that will stay small!!!) or a school of corys. Unless of course you wanna keep him or plan on getting a larger tank! I am not sure of the kind of hatchets you have but don't most of them only get about 2 inches? If so your pictus would eat them too. Good luck! :-)
 
Since "pleco" has become the common name for most of the family of suckermouth cats, you cannot tell by the common name. But numerically there are lot more small to medium species than the big guys. Unfortunately most LFS have more common (and which will be large) plecos than small one. Look for names such as Peckoltia, bristlenose or Ancistrus, dwarf Panaques, etc. They do cost more, but live long and are well worth their price.
 
hi.. im not an expert or anything.. but i was advised to get a 'bulldog plec' for my small tank, as he will not get any bigger than 2-3 inches.. and he doesnt dig up my plants either!!!!

he cost me £5 and is grey with white spots, and has a wide head/mouth... resembling a bulldog. :)

im happy-he's happy, pleased i bought him!!
 
Thanks all!
The Pictus cat went back to the shop, and was replaced with a Starlight bristlenose Pleco.

He's much more peaceful, and won't outgrow this tank.
The shop also had a King Tiger Peckoltia..too bad THAT fish gets so big, he was awesome.

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