Pictus catfish care

Water temperature

72–79°F

A pictus catfish wants water at 72–79°F, pH 6–7.5, and a tank of 55 gallons or bigger. Good tank mates include angelfish, tiger barbs, blue gouramis.

Fast, active at night and eats small sleeping fish.

Pimelodus pictus

pH

6–7.5

Minimum tank

55 gal

Adult size

5.0 in

Temperament

Semi-aggressive

Group

Groups of 3+

Lifespan

8–10 years

Swims at

Bottom

Diet

Carnivore

Best tank mates

• AngelfishYes
• Tiger barbYes
• Blue gouramiYes
• Paradise fishYes
• CorydorasYes
• Black skirt tetraYes
• Odessa barbYes
• Congo tetraYes
• Dwarf gouramiYes
• GloFish tetraYes
• Kissing gouramiYes
• Bala sharkYes

Full pictus catfish tank mate chart: 48 yes, 10 with care, 40 no

Pictus catfish water compared

Fish to keep away from pictus catfish

• Betta An adult pictus catfish is twice the size of a betta and will hunt or batter a slow, long-finned fish like this.
• Axolotl Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); pictus catfish need 72–79°F. No temperature suits both.
• Pea puffer An adult pictus catfish eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 1 inches pea puffers do.
• Oscar An adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 5 inches pictus catfish do.
• Guppy An adult pictus catfish eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2 inches guppies do.
• Honey gourami An adult pictus catfish eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2 inches honey gouramis do.
• Goldfish Goldfish are coldwater animals (60–74°F); pictus catfish need 72–79°F. They overlap only at 72–74°F, the edge of both ranges.
• Neon tetra An adult pictus catfish eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 1.5 inches neon tetras do.

More catfish and plecos

• Corydoras72–79°F
• Bristlenose pleco73–81°F
• Otocinclus72–79°F
• Panda cory68–77°F
• Common pleco72–86°F
• Glass catfish75–80°F
• Upside down catfish72–79°F
• Zebra pleco79–88°F