Can red tail sharks live with pictus catfish?

Verdict
Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Red tail sharks and pictus catfish can share a tank, but watch one thing. Red tail sharks chase other bottom fish out of their patch.

Red tail sharkRed tail shark72–79°F · pH 6.5–7.5 Pictus catfishPictus catfish72–79°F · pH 6–7.5

What to watch

What works

Water side by side

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

Size to scale

Red tail shark · 5 inPictus catfish · 5 in0"1"2"3"4"5"6"
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

Red tail sharkPictus catfish
Temperature72–79 °F72–79 °F
pH6.5–7.56–7.5
Adult size5.0 in5.0 in
Minimum tank55 gal55 gal
TemperamentSemi-aggressiveSemi-aggressive
Swims atBottomBottom
GroupOne per tankGroups of 3+
DietOmnivoreCarnivore

Better tank mates for red tail sharks

All red tail shark tank mates

Better tank mates for pictus catfish

All pictus catfish tank mates

Questions

Can red tail sharks live with pictus catfish?

Yes, with care. Red tail sharks and pictus catfish can share a tank, but watch one thing. Red tail sharks chase other bottom fish out of their patch.

What temperature suits both red tail sharks and pictus catfish?

72–79 °F. Red tail sharks need 72–79 °F, pictus catfish need 72–79 °F.

What size tank do red tail sharks and pictus catfish need together?

At least 55 gal, set by the red tail shark. Add space for each extra fish.