Pictys Catfish

tmtpowers

tmtpowers

AC Members
Jun 15, 2006
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Burlington, NC
www.ferretvillage.org
Today I bought 2 pictus catfish thinking that they may be one of the semi aggressive fish that can be placed in a community tank if they are provided with enough room. Well after researching them a bit, this isn't something I want to test with my fish seeing that odds are against me. Anyways, they are still in my 5G QT tank (they are only an inch each) and I figure I need to head out an buy a tank just for them and begin cycling it. So my question is what size tank should I get for these two fellows? They will be the only ones in the tank except maybe a snail or two.
 
The only problem I could see with housing pictus in a community tank is if you have small fish. They will eat anything that fits in thier mouth, but other than that really aren't aggressive at all. I have three of them and have had them in with several combinations of tank mates and they only picked on each other. The only other issue I had is that I had a pleco die from lack of food because these guys are voracious eaters. I put 4 peas in the tank once hoping the pleco would at least get something and I looked in a few minutes later and could see the outline of all 4 peas in the catfish's stomach! Generally they are harmless though from my experience.
 
Well I have neon tetras, dwarf platties, and regular platties. I worry about the neons and the dwarfs most. So the way it seems is that I need to get a tank just for them. Not because of any aggression but I want to go a small as comfortable to them as I'm running out of tank room! LOL *sigh* I started with one tank just 2 months ago. Now I have 4 about to get number 5. Where is the aquarium annomious group?
 
I am right there with you , I started just about 2 months ago with a 1G, now I have 5 tanks up to a 75G and have a space that I keep looking at that would look GREAT with a 125 G :) If you find the Aquarium Annonymous number let me know!
 
me too! ive got a 20 in my room, a 5 in the basement, a 10 in the basement, my brothers have a 2 in their room and my sister even has one... her little 1 gallon lol , and look at me asking my mom for a 55 gallon for the living room lol.i think it has to do with angelfish to lol beacuse they are so beautiful and i want a school of 10 so bad! lol
 
from what i understand, pictus cats get to about 5-6", so 1 in a 30 gal is probably OK. more than that may result in overstocking, especially with other fish in there.
 
i'm not an expert on stocking, either. maybe 30 gal would be OK for two of them. since i've never kept pictus cats myself, i think we better leave that question for someone who has had experience with that particular species. sorry my previous post didn't help you.
 
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