How Many Pictus Catfish In 75 Gallon?

[julielynn47]

Although you are probably right, I can't say for certain as the fish having bad health. They didn't seem to have bad health. But who knows. I knew zip about anything 27 years ago. But the tank seem to do fine anyway.
 
Well cichlids are probably a bad idea then.  Seems like pretty much everything in a bad idea with pictus, but I will find something! I will not give up. LOL  I have thought about Rainbow Fish, but they are easily found around here. So that makes it hard. I have to find something I can get locally or find somewhere that I can order and not pay 3 times the shipping than on the fish
 
And all those years ago, I too bought all my fish from the local Wal Mart.  They always lived and never died. I guess Wal Mart used to take better care of their tanks then than they do now.

I wondering about other catfish breeds doing well with the pictus.  Such as cories. Or maybe a Clown Loach. They get pretty good size. Also the Dinosaur Bichir. Rainbow or red tail shark.  Maybe just forget about midwater or top water range fish altogether 
 
 
 
Byron, can  you please post some links to some of those sites you speak of. I would be really interested in reading them.  I am still a good ways off from actually purchasing the pictus, so I have a time for sure to research

 

[Byron]

One has to keep in mind that our posts/threads are being read by other members who may have less experience than you and I, and that is why I go into some detail on these issues; it is not trying to pick on you, just so you know.

 
Re the Walmart point...it is amazing what fish can live through.  But what we must always remember is that living through something, which is coping or managing, is not the same as being healthy and thriving.  And does the fish live its normal lifespan or longer?  How many times will we read from members that "my fish just died."  Well, the fish didn't just die, it probably had some issue that was not recognized.  As a simple example, fish can sometimes live through cycling (when fish have been used to cycle a tank unknowingly or not) but I can guarantee it will die prematurely solely because of the internal detrimental effect of the ammonia and nitrite.  It is when one has fish that exceed their lifespan by years--as my male Bolivian Ram who keeled over last Christmas well into his eighth year, pretty good for a species with a normal lifespan of 4-5 years--that we can assume we are on the right track.  The aim we must foster is to provide the best environment (which includes everything from water parameters, to decor, to tank size, to numbers, to other fish in the tank) once we understand the intended fish species and have ascertained its natural requirements.
 

I wondering about other catfish breeds doing well with the pictus.  Such as cories. Or maybe a Clown Loach. They get pretty good size. Also the Dinosaur Bichir. Rainbow or red tail shark.  Maybe just forget about midwater or top water range fish altogether
 

 
Yes and No here.  Fist, other "tough" catfish such as some of the loricariids could work, but certainly not corydoras, loaches, or so-called "sharks."  The latter are sometimes very non-accepting of any other fish in their space, which is the entire tank substrate.  The corys are not "tough" enough, and the loaches are either the same or territorial in their own right.
 
Bichirs I have no experience with, but my understanding is that they are predatory, large, and generally OK with upper fish but not substrate fish.
 
There are a number of upper fish possible, though you may have to wait to find them locally, or perhaps plan a trip to a reasonably close neighbouring town with a good fish store when they have what you want.  I have waited as long as ten years for a species.
 

Byron, can  you please post some links to some of those sites you speak of. I would be really interested in reading them.  I am still a good ways off from actually purchasing the pictus, so I have a time for sure to research
 

 
My first choice in almost every case is Seriously Fish.  This site is owned and managed by a biologist, Matt Ford.  The knowledge base is used by ichthyologists and hobbyists for reliable data.  There are ichthyologists and biologists among the members of the forum.  All of this means that any inaccurate data is going to be spotted.
http/www.seriouslyfish.com/knowledge-base/
 
Planet Catfish is highly regarded and similar to SF.  Their taxonomy is occasionally "old," but the species information I would rely on.  Julian Dignall owns the site, and Ian Fuller, a recognized authority on Corydoras, is a major contributor, along with others.
http/www.planetcatfish.com/
 
There are some other sites I may go to now and then, but nothing that frankly compares to the above two.

 

[julielynn47]

Thank you Byron, and no, I didn't think you were picking on me. LOL
 
I am not a complete novice, but I am no where an authority either, and that is very apparent to anyone paying me any attention. ) 
 
I was thinking the Bichir because it is supposed to be predatory and large. I was thinking that might work with pictus. But maybe not.  I am going to go to those sites and read. 
 
So far I am not sure about anything anymore.  I think I can get rainbow fish where I have been getting fish. But other than that I am just stumped.....
 
 
I know my 20 gallon of years ago was probably not ideal, but I knew absolutely nothing and at the time things went well, or appeared to.  I would never stock a tank like that now, knowing what I do, but it really does seem more complicated to me now knowing the things that I know now.

 

[julielynn47]

Okay, here is some info I got from Planet Catfish
 
Compatibility --- Peaceful, but will soon eat smaller fish, such as neon tetras, but otherwise harmless.
It is considered good to keep these fish in a group of at least five fish.
When kept alone, they do not appear quite as happy and active as when kept in a group.
 
Suggested Tankmates --- Larger active fish such as tetras and gouramis.
Most barbs are no good company as they tend to nip fins and barbels.
They should be kept in (small) groups. Most singly kept specimens will pine away eventually.
Angelfish and other ''graceful'' fishes may be bothered by this species' barbels particularly during lights-out.
 
So that tells me that there is hope yet to find tankmates. Nothing slow and graceful. Nothing nippy.     But larger active fish like Tetras and Gouramis should be fine. As for Gouramis I would assume this would mean the large kind, not the dwarfs.   And as for the Tetras I am going to assume the larger breeds as well. 

 

[Byron]

That's basically where I have been leading.  I mentioned the Bleeding Hearts and Congo Tetras.  I did previously say I disagreed with their gourami though...this is a risk just like angelfish.  I can't see gourami as "active fish" and this may just have been a slip.

 

[julielynn47]

My sunset gourami moves pretty fast at times. But other times he is slow moving. But I am assuming they are referring to the larger gouramis.  I know nothing about them at all.
 
And when I say "local" fish store I mean 60 miles away from me.  Seriously, there is no place at all to buy fish unless I drive to the bigger cities and each one is 60 miles it opposite directions of me.   So when I decide to get fish I pretty much have to have a plan and know that they are in stock. Yes, I live is the country. LOL

 

[cowgirluntamed]

This is where I plan on getting my next fish.

http/www.petsolutions.com/C/Freshwater-Fish-Plants.aspx

They do have a small collection of some different rainbows and quite a few of the tetras as well as other fish.


I don't think I would do bichers. They get huge. Rachel O'Leary has 3 in a tank with a couple of gars. She's done some YouTube videos on them. They are awesome fish but need lots of space too. (I think her tank is 5 foot and over 100 gallons...and she says they need more space, at least living with the gars too so might be all of her fish combined). I almost wonder if you could have a tiger oscar in with the bichers....cuz I want some of them some day!! I need to quit planning tanks though.....but it's so fun! Lol.

 

[julielynn47]

Do you have a link to her tank?   I would love to see it!  Seems to me if they can live with gars they should do fine with a pictus LOL   Not saying I will get one, I just would love to see them in a tank after they get some size to them.
 
And yes, planning tanks is so much fun.  I have had to make myself stop.  I have my 55 gallon, and now I have the 10...which finally cycled and I will get some ghost shrimp this week for it. ( starting out on the cheap shrimp side to make sure everything is working in the tank ). I have the 75 I am setting up now, and would love to have another smaller one, say maybe a 40 gallon for some Angels.  I have to stop!! LOL
 
Just googled Rachel O'Leary.  OMG those do get big.  But I just can't imagine any fish I would get that would live a long enough life to get that big.  I do have a scissor tail that is 8 years old in my 55 gallon. So why would I think that? LOL  I still like the thought and I bet a fish like that would do fine with pictus.  I will continue to research. Heck, in the coming years it might give me a good reason to have yet a bigger tank LOL
 
All this talk about how the pictus can slice and dice things with their whiskers has me worried about how I will even get them home in one piece.  I don't know that I would want to order them and then they arrived in a bag of bloody water.   I know that sounds gross, but...  I am thinking I will even ask the pet store to bag them in different bags.  Maybe that is over the top???  Any thoughts anyone
 
After very little research, I have decided against the bichir...

 

[cowgirluntamed]

Lol! Thought you might like that video! I absolutely love those things. So prehistoric looking! The name of the game now that we know stuff though...is to get them to live that long! I really don't want to keep my black neon tetras...so I won't be upping their number for moving to the big tank, but when I looked up their lifespan...8-10 years! For a little bitty fish! Lol. I don't think this hobby will ever cease to amaze me.


Other tanks I wouldn't mind having....maybe a 40 gallon or so betta sorority...and I saw some green tiger barbs the other day at petsmart...so maybe a species tank of either just those or a mix between those and the regular tiger barb. Lol. At least 30 gallons for that I think. Lol. So many tank dreams....so little space.....and so little money...ugh! Lol.


Also...maybe you could take a container or some so the Petstore could put them in that so as not to puncture a bag? Just a thought!

 

[julielynn47]

I have a little ice chest type Styrofoam type cooler. I usually take it to set the bags in.  I may just take it and have them put the fish directly in it or just have them bag them separately. One to a bag. At least they would not be spearing each other on the way home.