Can pictus catfish live with glowlight tetras?
Verdict
No
No. Pictus catfish and glowlight tetras should not share a tank. An adult pictus catfish eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 1.5 inches glowlight tetras do.
What to watch
- Deal breakerAn adult pictus catfish eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 1.5 inches glowlight tetras do.
What works
- Both are fine at 74–79°F.
- pH 6–7.5 suits both.
- They use different parts of the tank: pictus catfish the bottom, glowlight tetras the mid.
Water side by side
Size to scale
Care at a glance
| Pictus catfish | Glowlight tetra | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 72–79 °F | 74–80 °F |
| pH | 6–7.5 | 6–7.5 |
| Adult size | 5.0 in | 1.5 in |
| Minimum tank | 55 gal | 10 gal |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive | Peaceful |
| Swims at | Bottom | Middle |
| Group | Groups of 3+ | Groups of 6+ |
| Diet | Carnivore | Omnivore |
Better tank mates for pictus catfish
Better tank mates for glowlight tetras
All glowlight tetra tank mates
Questions
Can pictus catfish live with glowlight tetras?
No. Pictus catfish and glowlight tetras should not share a tank. An adult pictus catfish eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 1.5 inches glowlight tetras do.
What temperature suits both pictus catfish and glowlight tetras?
74–79 °F. Pictus catfish need 72–79 °F, glowlight tetras need 74–80 °F.
What size tank do pictus catfish and glowlight tetras need together?
At least 55 gal, set by the pictus catfish. Add space for each extra fish.












