Pictus companions?

[themikestro]

Hello all!

A quick question about Pictus catfish... I've read that these fellas are predatory and you should be careful what you mix them with, how aggressive are they and what is the smallest fish they can be kept with.

If I got one it would be living with.....
2x Angels
1x Keyhole cichlid
3x swordtails
5x Colombian red fin tetras (big for a tetra)
and a fat lazy plec.

Would I be stupid to buy a pictus or do you think it would fit in alright with these guys?

Thanks catfish crew!

 

[csr mel]

my pictus (i have 2 3 inchers) are fine with my 1 inch platies. they never give them any problems except when one of my platies tries to mate with one of my pictus, then the platy gets beat up. now when the pictus are 5-6 inches and fully grown thats another matter but i guess i shall see what happens.

i think that, although predatory in nature, pictus are not as bad as they have a reputation for.

make sure to keep fish which are big enough to not fit in the pictus mouth.

 

[Fawke]

Exactly csr mel. These are great fish and i have never had a bad experience with them....

Contrary to popular belief, my 5" Pictus is very active and keeps himself to himself. I have only ever had probs when there were 2 of them.

2 will usually fight and as they are shoaling fish - i would recommend getting at least 3 (i only have 1 but will be getting him some mates as soon as the rainy season in the Amazon/Columbia permits the lfs to have decent stocks of them).

I have heard stories about them eating small neons over-night, but whoever is daft enough to put a predetory catfish in with small fish like that is asking for trouble IMO.

Pictus can be difficult to maintain, in essence i have found they are extremely sensitive (being scaless).
But boy, does mine love bloodworm..... It looks like he's swallowed a marble by the time he's finished!....

IMO they are great fish. Give them good conditions, sensible housemates and they will be a worthy addition to your tank

Enjoy!

 

[themikestro]

Sounds pretty positive, my only worry now is that my water may be a little hard for them, but that doens't seem to have been a problem for the Angels or any of the other fish.

I saw one in shop a few weeks ago so i've had my thinking hat on..... Certainly a striking fish.

Thanks guys!

 

[Fawke]

Yea, Hardness couldbe a problem....

However, saying that, we have hard water around here and my Pictus is fine. In fact he is a really healthy looking fish! And thrives in my tank....

After posting my previous post, i noticed that csr mel has 2 pictus. I would be interested to know if csr mel has had any problems with keeping 2?
I have tried to keep 2 several times, but i always seem to have a dominant one that stresses the other one out. One time to the extent he chewed his barbels off! Not good.
This is why i would recommend getting 3, as the chances of getting 2 compatible ones that do not pick on each other are pretty remote IME.

HTH

 

[tragikmagik]

I have 2 2-3 in pictus and so far they have posed no problem to me or each other yet..After reading these posts it makes me want to get a third but who knows. I am suprised you dont have problems with you chiclid. i think they would do fine B)

 

[csr mel]

hi fawke, i am not having any problems with keeping 2 pictus. whoever made up the idea that only pictus can be kept in 3+ must be wong as mine get along fine.

they play tag where they follow each other around the tank alot, espically up and down the glass, somthing about the glass walls facinates them. i first thought they were fighting but no they are indeed playing tag. if the front one slows down the rear one following will slow down and keep behind. they dont seem to shoal or school, but mearly play follow the leader.
somtimes they circle each other for minutes at a time, or lay on the bottom next to each other too, but they awalys go back to the glass walls.
the only time i have a problem is when one goes into the others cave. they seem territorial about their individual caves but they dont actually fight, just chase the other one out, really quickly. also they dont seem territorial about anywhere else but their own respective caves. even the area in front of the caves is ok to go around, as long as they dont actually go into each others caves.

oh and my pictus REALLY like a bit of cheese. it seems that cheese is to a pictus what cocane is to a human.

i dont know if their behaviour will change as they get bigger, i sure hope not because right now they are really cool. they are 3 inches long not including the tails. the pictus could not eat a full piece of cheese the size of my pinky fingernail so when they are full grown i doubt they could eat a adult platy size fish.

 

[Fawke]

Good im glad your Pictus are doing good.
From what others have said, and my own experience, 2 Pictus are trouble IME. Im glad there is hope, i must of kept getting a dominant one

Mine is always chasing his reflection in the glass! I mean 60% of his life is spent dashing up and down the glass!
There was me thinking he's lonely, when in fact they're all barmy!!

What a great fish....

Whatever you decide to do, im sure it'll be a great experience......