Can pictus catfish live with jack dempseys?

Verdict
No

No. Pictus catfish and jack dempseys should not share a tank. Jack dempseys are aggressive and much bigger than pictus catfish.

Pictus catfishPictus catfish72–79°F · pH 6–7.5 Jack DempseyJack Dempsey72–86°F · pH 6.5–7.5

What to watch

What works

Water side by side

55°60°65°70°75°80°85°90°Both: 72–79°Pictus catfish 72–79°Jack Dempsey 72–86°
The green band is the temperature range both can live in.
456789Both: 6.5–7.5Pictus catfish 6–7.5Jack Dempsey 6.5–7.5
The green band is the pH both tolerate.

Size to scale

Pictus catfish · 5 inJack Dempsey · 10 in0"2"4"6"8"10"
Adult length in an aquarium. A fish can swallow anything that fits in its mouth, roughly a third to half its own length for predators.

Care at a glance

Pictus catfishJack Dempsey
Temperature72–79 °F72–86 °F
pH6–7.56.5–7.5
Adult size5.0 in10.0 in
Minimum tank55 gal55 gal
TemperamentSemi-aggressiveAggressive
Swims atBottomMiddle
GroupGroups of 3+Alone or in pairs
DietCarnivoreCarnivore

Better tank mates for pictus catfish

All pictus catfish tank mates

Better tank mates for jack dempseys

All jack dempsey tank mates

Questions

Can pictus catfish live with jack dempseys?

No. Pictus catfish and jack dempseys should not share a tank. Jack dempseys are aggressive and much bigger than pictus catfish.

What temperature suits both pictus catfish and jack dempseys?

72–79 °F. Pictus catfish need 72–79 °F, jack dempseys need 72–86 °F.

What size tank do pictus catfish and jack dempseys need together?

At least 55 gal, set by the pictus catfish. Add space for each extra fish.