Can oscars live with pictus catfish?
Verdict
No
No. Oscars and pictus catfish should not share a tank. An adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 5 inches pictus catfish do.
What to watch
- Deal breakerAn adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 5 inches pictus catfish do.
What works
- Both are fine at 74–79°F.
- pH 6–7.5 suits both.
- They use different parts of the tank: oscars the mid, pictus catfish the bottom.
Water side by side
Size to scale
Care at a glance
| Oscar | Pictus catfish | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 74–81 °F | 72–79 °F |
| pH | 6–8 | 6–7.5 |
| Adult size | 12.0 in | 5.0 in |
| Minimum tank | 75 gal | 55 gal |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive | Semi-aggressive |
| Swims at | Middle | Bottom |
| Group | Alone or in pairs | Groups of 3+ |
| Diet | Carnivore | Carnivore |
Better tank mates for oscars
Common plecoYes
Clown loachYes
Black ghost knifeYes
BichirYes
Elephant nose fishYes
Chinese algae eaterYes
Better tank mates for pictus catfish
Questions
Can oscars live with pictus catfish?
No. Oscars and pictus catfish should not share a tank. An adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 5 inches pictus catfish do.
What temperature suits both oscars and pictus catfish?
74–79 °F. Oscars need 74–81 °F, pictus catfish need 72–79 °F.
What size tank do oscars and pictus catfish need together?
At least 75 gal, set by the oscar. Add space for each extra fish.