tumbling pim pictus

[Andi]

I got a pair of pim pictus last Friday - cute fishies. They do 4 things
1. nothing
2. play frisbie with algae discs
3. when the lights go out, they on patrol zooming everywhere - cool
4. spend hours (literaly) swimming in tight vertical circles.

No 4 is the one that worries me - don't they ever get dizzy? or are they dizzy ?

 

[cryosi]

i love the frisbie thing! sounds way cool lol mmmm the tight circles not sure about that andi! zooming is normal form what i seen of them in lfs.... would love some but no room yet!

 

[StiX]

lol, not heard of a fish doing that...is it a halfbreed alsation ? he he

 

[Andi]

hehe its cool, one will just pick it up, shake a few times and throw it (not always to his bruv) who runs off to do the same

 

[Gibbo]

I had one once, not so long back. Did exactly the some thing. I wonder wether they really are suited to 'normal' sized aquaria? From watching mine it was almost as if he needed to travel, to cover a lot of distance, which they most likely do in the wild. I think they are shoaling fish that flush inverts and fish fry out of the substate in their natural habitat, working almost in packs, or gangs. It does make you think. I have three freshwater puffers that do the same, just constantly swim back and forth along the glass, day in, day out. As a fishkeeper it is really frustrating because you do wonder wether they are stressed or not. And we all want our fish to be happy. That is why they'll most likely go back to the shop, I feel that we as fishkeepers really do need to know more about how certain fish behave in their natural habitat to be able to make them happy in our aquaria...

 

[StiX]

I have three freshwater puffers that do the same, just constantly swim back and forth along the glass, day in, day out.

I have a rosy barb that has started doing that ! its 'worn' a groove in the sand along the front edge of the glass lol

 

[Andi]

very good point gibbo, I like the fish - was advised to buy 'a pair' but they spend most of the day ignoring each other. They look quite menacing when the lights go out and they on patrol. I stress that they are stressed when the swim in circles. god this fishie keeping lark is hard.

btw they are in my new 3' bow.

 

[wetwetwet]

Yeah, nice looking fish,


Some comments on ppl who have them here Andi if I got the right fish?


Looks like they could be a threat to small fishes

 

[Andi]

ah yes www, the stories of the dissapearing tetras! - they only babies right now - fingers crossed, thats a nice pic on the link - its pinned on my pc @ work - till I get me digi cam

my lfs said 5-6" but that article says 25cm - sheesh!

 

[cryosi]

5 or 6 inches depending on peru or columbian andi!

 

[Andi]

thanks cryosi- thats what I had been told - the above article said 25cms - thats way more than 6" - they cool cats

 

[Rose]

Andi I don't know about this tight circle your talking about. I have 3 in a 55g and mine have NEVER done the circle thing. They have been in there since they were about 2" that was close to 3 yrs ago. Now they are full grown and love small fish for dinner. They are a real cool fish. One of mine will eat out of my fingers if I don't feed it quick enough. Just wait till you have your first cat fight. You'll love it. They growl just like a furry cat does. It's a riot to hear. Rose

 

[Andi]

I had heard (about) the growling thing - it must be loud if you can hear that through the glass To be honest they have almost made the tank look better with the lights out Only 10 days till they meet the silver dollars B) B)