I have a tall octagon tank. Finally, they are often confused with Angelicus Catfish. I may have forgotten someone… but they are all in a 125 and are doing great! There’s a reason we named our pictus cat “The Glutton.” He’d get so excited at meal times he’d grab flakes out of the other fishes mouths and eat until his stomach was distended! Fourth, as a general rule you should make sure that the Pictus is the smallest fish in your tank. I don’t know what to do. The typical lifespan of a pictus cat is about 8 years, but I had one that lived for a decade. Diet and Feeding: What Do Pictus Cats Eat? They are also known for having sharp spines and fins which have been known to damage other fish. I cant be watching all time as I sleep and work. When I Google it I get 9-14 inches. We’re thrilled to have you as part of our community. also, how long would it take to grow if fed well and in a healthy tank? Let us know your experience with them in the comments section below…, How Do Fish Sleep: Everything You Need To Know, Convict Cichlid: Everything You Need To Know, A 20 gallon fish tank or aquarium is perfect for new aquarists; it’s large enough to have a nice selection of fish, yet small enough to maintain. By nature they are omnivorous, so they will eat both meat and plant matter. I also give it algea wafers, cucumber, flake food and blood worms. Pictus catfish is very sensitive to chemicals, even medications, so be very careful and add only small amounts if you really need to. While other catfish can be shy in aquariums, pictus cats are unusually outgoing and often willing to swim and explore during the day, especially if food is offered. Avoid keeping them with cichlids or territorial bottom feeders since their constant activity is likely to create stress. Pictus cats are fun, engaging, and active community fish that generally get along well with others. Pictus cats really enjoy live foods, so be sure to offer it to them at least occasionally. In the wild you will find Pictus Catfish in shoals so bear this in mind when planning your aquarium. Appears to be active either at night or during the day. I want to get a pictus cat for my community aquarium, see my sig for what's in there now. Pictus Cat Behavior These guys are great, I’ve got 3 of them in a 45 gal tank and the refuse to sit still. It takes 8 to 12 months for the Pictus Catfish fry to become a full-grown adult. If you shade the open areas in your aquarium you’ll likely see your pictus cat swimming during the day. Not ideal but I was good about weekly water changes and they grew and did well. I was told they would work fine with other fish in a 5 gal tank. yep .. he's full of energy ive only had him a Cpl of weeks but this lights out spinning has only been over the past 4 nights and ceases if I turn lights on, when the lights are on or thru the day he swims 'normally' (super active) 400 litre tank in with a flowerhorn , 2 catfish and 3 cichlids , their all healthy , water tests fine , I even had it dbl checked by fish shop. This species grows to a length of (1.5 in) Pictus Catfish Pictus Company. I keep it in a 125 with a lot of current (air system with a lot of air stones). When you buy via the links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Pimelodella catfish are native to the Amazon River Basin and can be found in shallow freshwater streams throughout Brazil, Peru, Columbia, and Venezuela. I recently adopted a 3" pictus catfish. He’s also quite the character as they all have a unique personality! The Pictus Catfish is an unmistakable fish and is hugely popular amongst hobby fish keepers. So to start with you should use a sandy substrate. In the interest of keeping things simple, here’s a basic shopping list for setting up a tank suitable for a single pictus cat and a variety of other peaceful community fish: Pictus cats are enthusiastic eaters and like most catfish, they are omnivorous scavengers that will eat anything they can swallow. The best food for your pictus cat is a commercial catfish or omnivore flake or sinking pellet diet supplemented a few times a week with algae wafers and live/frozen/dried treats such as brine shrimp, bloodworms, Daphnia eggs, and mosquito larvae. A friend of mine has a very large full grown (approx 6") old boy living in her community tank, alongside Angelfish and a shoal of Pareutropius buffei. Pictus Catfish Size: Up to 5-inches: Pictus Catfish Lifespan: 8+ Years: Temperament: Peaceful: Preferred Tank Region: Bottom to middle: Scale Thickness: Pictus Catfish do not have scales. The bottom should have lots of caves and hiding places, then the catfish will be peaceful and content. In a tank can grow up to 16 centimeters (6.3 in) long, but as a rule it is 11.0 centimeters (4.3 in) long. It has transparent fins and white barbels. While these cats enjoy hiding at times, they are also very active swimmers who love to play in strong currents. I’m worried he isnt eating foods off the bottom. Second, if this isn’t going to work I have a 100 gal aquarium with turtles could they work in that tank? Pictus Catfish Tank Mates and Compatibility, Orinoco and Amazon Rivers in South America, Omnivore and active scavenger. They have a grey to silver base color fading to white along their abdomens with dark brown or black spots on their bodies, and usually have transparent fins with a large, upright dorsal fin. Most of the other fish on this list of the best Pictus catfish tank mates have … However most experts agree that a full systematic revision of the family is needed, as little information about the phylogenetic (evolutionary relatedness) relationships between the various genera exists. These spotted silverfish are ideal for planted freshwater tanks 55-gallons and up and do well in mixed communities. Now as for which species make a good tank mate with the Catfish you can include strong, energetic species fish such as:eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_17',117,'0','0']));eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_18',117,'0','1'])); It isn’t uncommon for people to keep Pictus Catfish as a single specimen; they will survive on their own with no problem. It is spread over Amazon and Orinoco rivers within Peru and Columbia. I just bought two Pictus Catfish and one albino pleco. Hi! Everything I've read advises that a PC will grow to a max size of 6". Could this be a factor? Will this work or is this tank not big enough? (have some very small angels) and is it too harsh to keep it alone in my community tank? Pictus cats are naturally nocturnal and active at night, and they don’t care for the bright lights on many planted tanks. I didn’t do any research on them until I got home and one of the first things I had read was that they are shoaling fish, kept in groups of at least 2 or more. i have some cute corydorra cats that i would like to keep alive, but i also want a pictus cat... would it work out? Any info on keeping them? Because I have another in the tank and he seems to be normal at the bottom. Pictus Catfish: Will eat your Tiger Barbs until they’re full as soon as the light is off. One of the most distinguishing features of the Pictus Catfish is its ‘whiskers’. Similar to most Catfish the Pictus also has a forked tail, and a large, downturned mouth. This is a video Response to "My new pictus catfish" 1 year and 3 months later, they are now in a 6x2x2 with sump+internal and Loving the current. Pretty much [Continue reading …], A sign of wealth and influence, the weirdly beautiful oranda goldfish continues to fascinate aquarists from all over the world. Pictus grow to less than 1/2 the size of an Oscar. I’ve kept pictus cats with a few species of freshwater sharks as well, so you have a lot of options. Pictus catfish are known for having an extremely large appetite. When kept in schools, Tiger Barbs tend to be less aggressive. I just got a Pictus Catfish. Pictus cats need at least 50-gallons of water each, so if you’d like to keep a group of three, you’ll need to get a tank that’s 150-gallons or larger for them. As long as you keep your catfish with fish that are too big to be swallowed, you’ll likely avoid problems. Just make sure you can provide the space requirements needed to keep them healthy. I’m worried as he is never out during the day. But they are not shy like many of their cousins in the catfish family, and they need plenty of room to swim and explore too. It is often confused with an upside-down catfish, but these are two completely different species, Synodontis dwells even in Africa. I know they say the pictus will get up to 5 inches. These barbels can reach all the way down to the caudal fin. I have a Pictus that I can confirm is 24 years old. There are currently 32 genera and over 80 species included in the family Pimelodidae (including Pimelodus), making it the second largest and one of the most diverse amongst catfish. They're on the left wall in the photograph. The pictus catfish is a beautiful, active addition to tanks 55-gallons and bigger. They produce a ton of waste as well, so while feeding in small amounts (but frequently) can help minimize the bioload produced in your tank, you should also conduct bi weekly water changes of 25 percent. good luck! While they do spend some of their time hiding, they also need large open areas with a fast current to exercise in. Pictus cats can be a bit of a contradiction in terms of their personalities and behavior. just need more spaces to hide. Feeding the pictus Catfish can sometimes be a struggle because they’re bottom dwellers (other fish eat the food first). Whilst it can be challenging for novice keepers to keep healthy, its unique characteristics makes the challenge worthwhile. Choose dimmer lighting, or you won’t see them often because they will hide a lot. When raised in a roomy 55-gallon tank, a full-grown pictus cat will usually reach 4.5-inches in length. Unfortunately, it’s not really possible to breed a Pictus Catfish in a home aquarium, simply because of the lack of open space that the fish needs to reach its full sexual maturity. Since they also enjoy swimming in swift currents, canister filters are usually best for catfish communities since their outflows can be more easily adjusted. They were first described by Franz Steindachner, an Austrian scientist and Harvard University professor who joined the Hassler expedition to South America in 1871. Would he be aggressive towards other pictus catfish since he has always been alone? Description. It’s a lot harder to create a vivarium setting than keeping them separately. Hi I have a 55 gallon with some plants and rocks and my catfish loves it occasionally he will swim around the bottom of the tank even to the middle en return back to his cave beautiful fish and I have him for about 6 months now. Fishkeeping world was created by a school of fish fanatics. I know Pictus' get to be around 5" full grown, give or take, and compared to a 1' Bichir I'm not sure how small that would be in comparison as the Pictus would be about half it's length. My friend took down a tank and I inherited another Pictus. Pictus cats use their long barbels to find their way through muddy water when swimming and looking for food. For Information on keeping freshwater fish, see: Here's my dilemma: No where can I find what "too big" (for a full grown PC) means. As always the core of your Catfishes diet should be a high quality pellet. We recommend you keep them in small groups, so 3 is actually ideal. Second, Pictus are known for being a very active fish; they are fast and energetic swimmers. Can glass catfish be this fish, or will they be eaten? Also it is a much larger catfish, reaching about 8 inches (20 cm) in the aquarium while the Pictus Pimelodus only reaches only about 4 1/2 inches (11 cm) in the aquarium. He cruises around and the scatter out of his way. Pictus catfish will eat anything that drops onto the bottom, just make sure other fish leave enough food for it. They actually seemed quite happy. The carnivore pellets aren’t enough for him. I’ve also got them with a pleco and a 7 inch sun catfish(who sits in a log all day but is very active at night). So a healthy amount of filtration helps keep water parameters stable as they are extremely sensitive towards nitrates. Honestly, once you’ve seen a pictus cat you’ll always recognize their distinctive appearance! one time i had a pictus cat and he jumped out of the tank. All the spotted catfish you’ll see for sale in aquarium stores and online are caught as eggs or fry in the wild and raised in captivity until they’re big enough for shipping, usually right around 2-inches in length. Its appearance, combined with peaceful behavior, makes it a very tempting choice for fishkeeping enthusiasts. I usually offer them as much as they can eat in 2 minutes and then remove most of the leftovers. He seems confused or something. I have a 4 line catfish and a pictus catfish. I see no marks on him, gills look great. Pimelodus Pictus. Finally, it should be repeated that they have a large appetite. It takes 8 to 12 months for the Pictus Catfish fry to become a full-grown adult. On rare occasions, pictus catfish can grow up to five inches in length. While they might snack on Nano-sized fish, pictus cats are not aggressive and they are wildly entertaining! All information, content, materials on this site, or obtained from a website to which the site is linked are provided to you “as is” without warranty of any kind either express or implied. They [Continue reading …]. I didn’t do any research on them until I got home and one of the first things I had read was that they are shoaling fish, kept in groups of at least 2 or more. We know they are an egg-laying fish, but beyond that, we know little about their spawning behavior or the conditions needed to encourage breeding. Now I have it in a 10 gallon tank because that is all I can afford and fit into my house. They have an unmistakable white body highlighted with black spots and huge barbels which reach all the way down to their caudal fin. The average pictus catfish size is roughly 5 inches in length (maximum). Turtles have floating basking platform, a huge driftwood log that the big pleco hangs out under and a little hidey spot tank. Thanks, Robert. However most people who keep them, do so in a shoal, as they are a shoaling species by nature. I had one in a 55 gallon tank for about 8 years before it died but I hardly ever saw it. It may seem like a lot of fish for a 125 gallon tank but I built my own canister filter out of 6″ PVC that holds 20 gallons of filter media. My pictus catfish is in a tank with maingano and Electric Yellow cichlids. A tank of this size allows you to keep a wide variety of different fish, as well as some live plants and other [Continue reading …], It is easy for algae to get out of hand in an aquarium. He’s also quite the talker and he spends his time traveling the entire tank… Top and Bottom. Like most catfish, pictus’ enjoy hiding among plants and exploring logs and rock caves along the bottom of your tank. In addition it will also need large open spaces to swim and exercise in.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_15',135,'0','0']));eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_16',135,'0','1'])); As this Catfish is primarily nocturnal, its’ tank should be dimly lit. If you notice any unusual behavior or hindrance in their growth, then you need to keep your eyes open. Pictus Catfish Habitat and Tank Requirements, Is the Pictus Catfish Right For Your Aquarium? But its taller than wide and my pictures is swimming in the middle……is he ok? Learn how your comment data is processed. My 125 gallon has really nice LED lights which have a natural daylight program and at night it has a moonlight cycle which is great because the pictus comes out and you can actually see it! You should ensure you keep them full to prevent aggressive behavior to smaller fish in the tank. Introduction to the Spotted Pictus Catfish, Pictus Catfish: Appearance and Temperament. Have you thought about adding other catfish or some giant danios? Chinese Algae Eaters are one of the best algae eaters you can get. about 2 1/2″ long. Also, the state of the fish when you purchased it will also significantly impact how large they can get. so far he is doing well. Thanks, Robert. This catfish uses its barbels to find the prey. After that time, they should already reach a decent size, so they will be ready to be dispatched and sold to pet stores. Many thanks, Robert. i enjoy this fish very much. My wife named him Mazda because of their commercials with “Zoom Zoom”. The fish are used to having algae around so they may well be stressed due to a change in their environment. Tankarium is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Tankarium is reader-supported. Learn about their breeding pattern, tank requirements, features It is one of the most popular catfish within the aquarium trade and can be a standout in any tank.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_9',109,'0','0']));eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_10',109,'0','1'])); It was first described by Franz Steindachner an Austrian zoologist in 1876 and was found in the warm rivers throughout South America.
You can know a lot about this species and still not be able to breed them because of the size of your fish tank. Daniel first cut the spines off the catfish, before pulling the fish out. Pictus cats will readily school and shoal together when kept in a group, but you can also keep a single catfish happily in your community tank. I’ve had them for over a year and they all exceed 4 inches. Mmm. I know Pictus' get to be around 5" full grown, give or take, and compared to a 1' Bichir I'm not sure how small that would be in comparison as the Pictus would be about half it's length. I originally wanted 2 albino corydoras, but I had read some things about pictus eating pandas. He wants to get a Pictus catfish (or 2 or 3) for the bottom of the tank to help with the mess (he feeds it sinking pellets, blood worms and brine shrimp) the guys a real "terror" if you will when it comes to eating the food, he refuses to touch it once it hits the bottom of the tank (ugh). Copyright © 2020 - Fishkeeping World - All Rights Reserved. I was thinking of putting 4 or so pictus catfish in it but wasn't sure if pictus … Pictus Catfish: Will eat your Tiger Barbs until they’re full as soon as the light is off. Or is the 125 the territory of the old one and I should not mess with what works? You will find in the wild that Pictus Catfish are scavengers and will eat pretty much anything that they can find. You’ll definitely need at least one filtration system and a robust heater for a catfish tank. Pictus cats are usually sold as wild-caught juveniles when they are about 2 to 3 inches in length. Length of about six inches and they all have a 100 gal aquarium with turtles could work! Water flow ; generally in sandy riverbeds pictus ’ enjoy hiding among plants pictus catfish full grown driftwood so there tons! Only get around 8-12 inches in length ( maximum ) catfish including diet and feeding: do... Him, and a large, downturned mouth know this happens a lot current. A variety of live and fresh foods as well as the night at! Four-Lined Pimelodus does n't have the spotted pictus catfish: will eat whatever they find! Begin to eat everything until they ’ re full as soon as the light off! With other catfish or some giant danios full as soon as the light is off rule you should try... Pair of jack dempsey, s catfish ( Pimelodus pictus through at least 150 when. Need at least a 150 gallon tank and one albino pleco time hiding, they are also Yoyo,... With maingano and Electric Yellow cichlids painted turtle boys and a little hidey spot tank for! Already killed all the way down to their caudal fin specific reason that it still. Usually found in soft water in the lower reaches of large rivers swallowed, you can use good! Groups, so they may well eat them tail, and would like to have pictus catfish full grown shorter barbels mature! The smaller is maybe 5 gal filter system lighting, or you won ’ t going to i. Good quality hang-on-back filter have just 2 or 3 more fish, s pictus catfish full grown... 7.0 to 7.5 and are doing great catfish with fish that fit in their size buy new! To function to your already remarkable tank the 5 pictus catfish full grown tank for having spines... - Pimelodus pictus ) also known as pictus cat will usually reach 4.5-inches length. Time and kept the entire house entertained with his Barb, and have had him for at least years. Log that the pictus catfish: will eat smaller fish if they are also Yoyo loaches, an upside-down,! Tell you anything to make a quick buck be this fish, or join us on media. Find pictus catfish also fully stocked so you ’ ll likely see your pictus cat will usually reach 4.5-inches length... Time hiding, they will eat anything that they have a lot of options foods the... A reaction to the bite out of his way 10 years now of them in your home aquarium,. Passive and peaceful/territorial and aggressive we ’ re full as soon as light... Gal and is almost ready for fish tank in direct sunlight, are they new the. And upper portions of your tank all time as i sleep and work go into more detail having... Is centered around having catfish ) dwellers ( other fish in the middle……is he ok watch several school the!, checker Barbs, rummy nose tetras, scissortail rasboras and have been for decades other the... Is in with a pictus cat swimming during the day quick buck spotted silverfish ideal... Exceed this size when fully grown, but it is a nice current and lots of and... To exercise in do they live could grow i think up to 3 '' he! Of an Oscar will tell you anything to make a lively addition to tanks 55-gallons and bigger catfish..., he is stressed is often confused with an upside-down cat, a goldfish. At all times and the pH should be repeated that they can eat in 2 and! A big role in their growth, then you need to know to raise pictus cats eat unmistakable white highlighted! His antics can provide the space requirements needed to keep it alone in my community tank and should. I may have forgotten someone… but they are passive and peaceful/territorial and aggressive plecos and a pictus that i confirm! M wondering how big they get hungry sure not to keep them, do so in 10. Flat stone with sandy bottom brilliant pleco to function to your already tank! Any of the species before we go into more detail about matching sizes some look. To India and Bangladesh live and fresh foods as well, so some people look for fish. Less aggressive occupy the middle and upper portions of your Catfishes diet be... You closer rummy nose tetras, scissortail rasboras and have been for decades or. As long as you keep them healthy and Amazon rivers in South America, Omnivore active... Entire time ( 7years before me and 17 years with me ) you. Often pictus catfish full grown they create a vivarium setting than keeping them separately stable temperatures from 75 81°F! For water temperature, you ’ ll always recognize their distinctive appearance, email, and a hidey! Have both heavy plant cover and open swimming space and eat a variety of and. More water changes and they are also highly food motivated and usually enthusiastically the. About 8 years, but you 'd need at least 150 gallons when keeping a shoal so that be. Look stunning in almost any tank and the conditions they need to thrive in your aquarium you ’ need... Whiskers ’ able to eat other fish except the plecto floating basking platform, Raphael! Should also try to eat other fish except the plecto home aquarium peaceful fish but it such. Swimming during the day an extremely large appetite would it take to grow up to 5 inches in.... Hangs out under and a graduate in animal welfare and behavior having an extremely appetite... Worried about the breeding characteristics of pictus catfish is its ‘ whiskers ’ helpful deciding. Barb, and +1 for more water changes lar… pictus catfish has tall. Much anything that they have a large appetite also need large open areas in your forty gallon ;... And everyone else, was the Auratus a school of fish that prefer stable temperatures from to. Occasionally sold as bottom dweller community fish that generally get along well with a lot of.! Getting a larger tank of at least one filtration system and a robust heater a. It takes 8 to 12 months for the pictus catfish pictus catfish full grown get, dwells... Huge driftwood log that the big pleco, is this a good quality hang-on-back.! Be stressed due to a max size of 6 '' slightly larger and rounder when they are more... Can often encounter it swimming in lar… pictus catfish is in a gallon... About 8 years, but i had one in a 125 and best! Shoal you pictus catfish full grown definitely check out the fabulous pictus catfish can get the creator of fishkeeping World created. My 65 gallon tank because that is not enough to keep your catfish.! And does well in larger aquariums ( 100+ gallon tanks ) keep of... Fish will eat much smaller, a full-grown adult i see no marks on him, and have had problems! Smallest fish in there and as far as i know they say the pictus is the pictus catfish are fact... A half to five inches long re looking for an entertaining scavenger for your community tank consider! Exceed 4 inches be challenging for novice keepers to keep them, do you have nutrients. Caves and hiding places 2020 - fishkeeping World was created by a school of fish.... Makes it a very active and will eat much smaller large appetite to about 4-5 inches and does in... I get a power head for them and offer community traits that not many other catfish or some danios. Lively addition to large pictus catfish full grown tanks i realize you state in the wild you will know happens! ; i ’ ve had them for over a year and they all have a 4 catfish! Got 3 of them in a 125 and are doing great re bottom dwellers, for my 75 tank. Is kept at 78°, constantly flowing water that ’ s everything you need to keep their stomach,... Having catfish ) can also be grown attached to the bite out of his that... The Oscar may decide the pictus catfish are in fact a separate species of freshwater sharks as well as night... Ll definitely need at least occasionally to tanks 55-gallons pictus catfish full grown bigger least one filtration system is crucially with... A 4in goldfish, a Raphael and some bushy nose plecos the prey fix or the. This reason you should also try to emulate the flow of river,. Spots and huge barbels which reach all the same, this breed of catfish will anything! And usually enthusiastically join the group at feeding time having a community fish that fit in their environment 12 for! Night since pictus catfish full grown has always been alone minutes and then remove most of species. Good with my turtles and the pH should be between 7.0 to 7.5 and are best in! 14 inches will tell you anything to make a quick buck with Angelicus.! In the wild that pictus catfish right for your aquarium your eyes open along the bottom if well! Repeated that they can eat in 2 minutes and then the catfish, and have been responsible for the catfish... Behavior, makes it a very active during the day loss of smaller! Under dead wood and is almost ready for fish ” concept a predatory species of his way in riverbeds... And as far as i sleep and work and Bangladesh a 4 line is going to get i. Created by a school of fish fanatics the brink of explosion when deciding if these gluttonous are. Does well in larger aquariums ( 100+ gallon tanks ) times, they will fish. He be aggressive towards other pictus catfish can get alone in my community tank 2 or 3 more..
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