Pictus catfish
Pimelodus pictus
A fast, silver, black-spotted catfish with long whiskers, often sold as a bottom cleaner but actually a predator that eats neons and guppies.
Key facts
- Body length
- 4.7 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 76 gallons
- Group
- Alone is fine
- Temperament
- Predatory
- Care level
- 3 / 5
- Lifespan
- Not well documented
- Diet
- Sinking carnivore pellets, frozen bloodworm and mysis
- Origin
- Amazon and Orinoco basins, South America
- Hardier than10%
- Bigger than64%
- Calmer than5%
Water: their range vs yours
Pictus catfish tank mates
- Common plecoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Convict cichlidGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Fairy cichlidGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Firemouth cichlidGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Jewel cichlidGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Leopard sailfin plecoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- SeverumGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Three spot gouramiGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Assassin snailGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Red swamp crayfishGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Redclaw crayfishGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Blue acaraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- BettaPictus catfish eats slow fish: Betta (SF: беспокоит медленных соседей (многие цихлиды) ночью и при кормлении).Risky
- AngelfishPictus catfish eats slow fish: Angelfish (SF: беспокоит медленных соседей (многие цихлиды) ночью и при кормлении).Risky
- Tiger barbPictus catfish can eat young or small Tiger barb; adults are big enough to be safe.Risky
- Black widow tetraPictus catfish can eat young or small Black widow tetra; adults are big enough to be safe.Risky
- Blood parrot cichlidPictus catfish eats slow fish: Blood parrot cichlid (SF: беспокоит медленных соседей (многие цихлиды) ночью и при кормлении).Risky
- Blue dolphin cichlidBlue dolphin cichlid can eat young or small Pictus catfish; adults are big enough to be safe.Risky
- Neon tetraPictus catfish can eat Neon tetra: prey body depth 0.7 cm ≤ mouth 3.0 cm.Avoid
- Harlequin rasboraPictus catfish can eat Harlequin rasbora: prey body depth 1.1 cm ≤ mouth 3.0 cm.Avoid
- Fancy guppyPictus catfish can eat Fancy guppy: prey body depth 0.8 cm ≤ mouth 3.0 cm.Avoid
- Panda corydorasPictus catfish can eat Panda corydoras: prey body depth 2.4 cm ≤ mouth 3.0 cm.Avoid
- OtocinclusPictus catfish can eat Otocinclus: prey body depth 0.7 cm ≤ mouth 3.0 cm.Avoid
- Cherry shrimpPictus catfish can eat Cherry shrimp: prey body depth 0.8 cm ≤ mouth 3.0 cm.Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for pictus catfish: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 12 cm (SL)
- Adult mass
- 25.92 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 11.91 BU
- Min. water
- 243 L net
- Min. footprint
- 120 × 45 cm per group
- Min. height
- 45 cm
- Group
- 1+ (best 6)
- Swims in
- bottom, middle
- Flow
- moderate
- Body / fins
- fusiform, normal fins
- Diet type
- carnivore
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- copper
Sources: Seriously Fish: Pimelodus pictus
Care notes
Pictus catfish come from shallow flowing waters with sandy or muddy bottoms in the Amazon and Orinoco. They are restless swimmers, most active at dusk, and feel more confident in a group of six.
A group needs a tank at least 4 feet long and 18 inches wide, around 55 gallons or more, with good flow and open swimming space. Their fin spines are venomous with a sting like a wasp's, so move them in a container rather than a net, and never keep them with small fish or shrimp.
Questions
What size tank does a pictus catfish need?
At least 76 gallons (243 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 4.7 inches without fins.
How many pictus catfish should be kept together?
One is fine. They do not need company of their own kind.
What water do pictus catfish need?
72–77 °F, pH 5.8–6.8 and 1–15 dGH. Pictus catfish come from Amazon and Orinoco basins, South America.
How long do pictus catfish live?
Not well documented with good care.
What fish can live with pictus catfish?
Good tank mates include Common pleco, Convict cichlid, Fairy cichlid, Firemouth cichlid and Jewel cichlid. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.