Pictus Anyone?

[Clairel]

Seen some gorgeous Pictus at my lfs, ive read up loads about them, to keep them in 3's or more, as 1 will get lonely and hide, 2 will fight, and yes i hear they can eat small fish..

My question is this..

Does anyone have any? Can they be kept with Mollies (big) ?

I would love to put 3 in my new tank when its sorted

This is what im planning on putting them with, 6 mollies, 2 angels (medium), 4 Clown Loach, and 2 Bolivian Rams...

Claire xx

 

[CFC]

That combination should be fine, just dont expect any fry from the mollies to survive. One possible problem could be the angel fish, sometimes they can be spooked by long whiskered catfish during the night and will attempt to jump to get away from them as a natural reflex which can damage their fins from hitting the hood of the tank.

 

[Clairel]

That combination should be fine, just dont expect any fry from the mollies to survive. One possible problem could be the angel fish, sometimes they can be spooked by long whiskered catfish during the night and will attempt to jump to get away from them as a natural reflex which can damage their fins from hitting the hood of the tank.

Hi thanx....I wont be having any fry anyway, as all my 6 mollies are females

Shame about the Angel fish though

What fish would you say you CANNOT have with Pictus?

Claire x

 

[CFC]

You should not keep anything under 3 inches with pictus cats as they will eat smaller fish, they are also not suitable for tanks with much larger predatory or aggressive fish such as oscars and other large Cichlids or other fish which may try to eat the pictus as this would likely end in the death of both the pictus and the attacker due to the sharp serated spines in the dorsal and pectoral fins of the pictus cats.
I also would not recomend pictus for tanks which contain shy and easily bullied fish like Discus or slow feeders such as elephant nose fish as the pictus cats hyperactivity at night and during feeding could stress them out or cause them to starve.

 

[Clairel]

You should not keep anything under 3 inches with pictus cats as they will eat smaller fish, they are also not suitable for tanks with much larger predatory or aggressive fish such as oscars and other large Cichlids or other fish which may try to eat the pictus as this would likely end in the death of both the pictus and the attacker due to the sharp serated spines in the dorsal and pectoral fins of the pictus cats.
I also would not recomend pictus for tanks which contain shy and easily bullied fish like Discus or slow feeders such as elephant nose fish as the pictus cats hyperactivity at night and during feeding could stress them out or cause them to starve.

Ooooooooooh thanx alot, i was thinking of getting some discus, but not yet decided.....

Claire x

 

[Miss Dib Dabs]

Other thing to watch for with pictus is that they aren't suited to brand new set ups. They need a mature tank or you'll run the risk of losing them. As I found out first hand some time back. They are highly susceptable to ich and it can take hold fast. I lost three within 48 hours of each other from it. Saddest thing I've ever had to go through with my fish and I'd never want to repeat it.
They are beautiful and fast! But as already said, they will eat anything small enough hence angels, discus and other easily spooked breeds won't be happy.
I don't actually keep them now since I discovered my true love of various syno's. The latest being one of these beauties.
Hugs,
P.

 

[Apop]

I have 1 pictus with 3 silver shark and he seems happy enough. I feed him blood worm mostly, he eats loads and bloats his belly to a rather worrying size.
The Pictus was the first one in the tank shortly followed by the sharks. I have had no problems with him at all. He is very active. Swims around all the time, never bothers the other fish. He's a bottom feeder and the sharks tend to stay nearer the top.

The Pictus do have sharp little spikes on their fins though, so watch out for them

 

[Clairel]

Is he ok alone? I read up that 1 gets lonely and can hide, 2 can fight, so its best to get 3 or more....i was only planning on getting maybe 1 or 2, i didnt really want 3, but if i decide to get them, what shall i do? 1, 2 or 3 ??

C x

 

[big mick]

Ive kept one on its own before and it seemed fine, I had 3 to begin with but not long after getting them they all got whitespot and 2 died but the last one survived and had him for over 3 years.

Someone said earlier they stuff their bellies with food and they werent wrong, I used to give mine all sorts of frozen food, even prawns but normal catfish pellets usually got eaten before they even hit the gravel!

Very attractive fish, always active and great fun if you have the room get three.....I love all catfish but my discus take up most of my time now.

 

[Apop]

Is he ok alone? I read up that 1 gets lonely and can hide, 2 can fight, so its best to get 3 or more....i was only planning on getting maybe 1 or 2, i didnt really want 3, but if i decide to get them, what shall i do? 1, 2 or 3 ??

C x

The Pictus seems happy on his own, he's alway swimming about even though he's got loads of places to hide. I dont remember him ever hiding away, infact, whenever i'm in the room its almose as if he's either showing off or likes to see what i'm up to He is my favorite

 

[Clairel]

Ooooooooooooh so i could get just 1 then?? That sounds good

C x

 

[CFC]

Personally i would recomend that you buy at least 3 as they are a social species that preffer the company of their own kind.

 

[big mick]

At the end of the day its up to you, I agree with CFC that you should keep at least 3 but at the same time I have kept one alone for a long time so...

...sounds like you really want one.

 

[Clairel]

I would love some yes !! Just been to my lfs for some dechlorinator, and had a nosey at the fish while i was there, the Pictus took my eye again I think im going to have to get some arnt i?

Lol

C x

 

[big mick]

I think you are, like I say I cant say that keeping one on its own is bad because mine was fine on its own but it depends what space you have......did you get some/ one??