pictus questions

[oranda]

I've had pictus for awhile, but have been becoming frustrated with info I find on the web. None of it agrees! (pimelodus pictus, to specify)
Is there anyone here who can answer a few questions?
How large do they actually get? Some sites say 10 inches, though most say 4 inches. The only older one I had recently died due to medical problems and he was about 5 inches. Currently having four in a 55 gallon tank, I would really like to know if I'll need a larger tank in a few years or not!
How long do they live? I've read anything from 8 to 25 years!
Is Coppersafe truely okay to use with them? I had a big problem as of late and lost my one cat, and the forums I usually go to said that the coppersafe was more than likely the problem, though no one had heard of there being problems before. Basically what happened is it seemed to burn his skin off, at least something did. But oddly enough the other 4 cats were not affected by it. Does this sound right?
It is supposedly safe for naked catfish. Could this have actually been some odd secondary bacterial infection?
Does anyone know any really good websites for them that could clear some of this up?
Any help is welcome!
Thanks!

 

[mostanks]

hi oranda,i can only comment on the size question sorry i've always had pictus cats(P.Pictus)they all lived very long lives(a few were over 6yrs old)at that age they were 5"s long,i've never seen 1 bigger than that
http/planetcatfish.com/core/index.htm

 

[oranda]

That is definatly a relief! I love them, but was really wondering what I was going to be able to put with them if they got that large! Especially with the knowlege that whatever they can get in their mouths will go in their mouths.

 

[Jeebz]

What did your pictus look like when you said it skin looked like it was burned? I have one now that i noticed had a yellowish tiny spots on its head but almost looks like a yellow rash. I know its not ich. I was just wondering what yours looked like.

 

[oranda]

Mine had started out with ich (added a tiger barb to soon to the tank and he spread it around.)
The other symptoms did not start untill the ich was cleared up. Basically he skin started peeling off in a sheet. The one entire side of his body had the muscles completely exposed. It would start sagging, like it was too big, then get a little rip, then just peel off.
One of the other pictus had got ich also, but not the other problem. And seeing that none of the other cats never developed, I'm not sure the copper caused it.
Perhaps I'll never know. I would just like to make sure I could prevent it from happening again.
As for your fish, small yellow spots could be velvet. Couldn't say for sure though. How's he acting? Any other symptoms?

 

[Starfish]

IMO you can keep four pictus cats in a 55 gal. I have a pictus that is almost 6", she has been that size for quite a while and I dont think she is gunna get any bigger

 

[oranda]

How long have you had it?

 

[Starfish]

A little over a year.