Pictus catfish tank mates

Good matches

48 of 98

The safest picks for pictus catfish are angelfish, tiger barbs and blue gouramis. Each match shares pictus catfish' temperature and pH and leaves them alone.

Fast, active at night and eats small sleeping fish.

Temperature: 72–79°F
pH: 6–7.5
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Minimum tank: 55 gal
With care: 10
Avoid: 40

How each group of fish does with pictus catfish. Click through below for the reason behind every verdict.

Good tank mates

Possible, with care

Red tail shark Red tail sharks chase other bottom fish out of their patch.
Rainbow shark Rainbow sharks chase other bottom fish out of their patch.
Koi A grown koi may treat small pictus catfish as food, especially at night.
Convict cichlid Convict cichlids are aggressive. Pictus catfish hold their own only in a big tank with places to hide.
Molly Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.5.
Bamboo shrimp Pictus catfish will eat baby shrimp and may chase adults. Dense plants or moss give bamboo shrimp somewhere to hide.
African cichlid Different water: african cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6, pictus catfish want pH 6–7.5.
Electric yellow cichlid Different water: pictus catfish want pH 6–7.5, yellow labs want pH 7.8–8.6.
Peacock cichlid Different water: pictus catfish want pH 6–7.5, peacock cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6.
Zebra pleco They only share 79°F. Keep the heater set there and steady.

Avoid

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.
Sparkling gourami An adult pictus catfish eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 1.5 inches sparkling gouramis do.
Harlequin rasbora An adult pictus catfish eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2 inches harlequin rasboras do.
Serpae tetra An adult pictus catfish eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 1.75 inches serpae tetras do.
Cherry barb An adult pictus catfish eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2 inches cherry barbs do.
Lemon tetra An adult pictus catfish eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2 inches lemon tetras do.
Jack Dempsey Jack dempseys are aggressive and much bigger than pictus catfish.
Pygmy cory An adult pictus catfish eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 1 inches pygmy corys do.
Celestial pearl danio An adult pictus catfish eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 1 inches celestial pearl danios do.
Black neon tetra An adult pictus catfish eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 1.5 inches black neon tetras do.
Otocinclus An adult pictus catfish eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2 inches otocinclus do.
Cherry shrimp Pictus catfish hunt shrimp. Adult cherry shrimp will be eaten.
Glowlight tetra An adult pictus catfish eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 1.5 inches glowlight tetras do.
Ember tetra An adult pictus catfish eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 0.8 inches ember tetras do.
Zebra danio An adult pictus catfish eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2 inches zebra danios do.
Pencilfish An adult pictus catfish eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2 inches pencilfish do.
Amano shrimp Pictus catfish hunt shrimp. Adult amano shrimp will be eaten.
Bichir An adult bichir eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 5 inches pictus catfish do.
Hatchetfish An adult pictus catfish eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 1.5 inches hatchetfish do.
Black ghost knife An adult black ghost knife eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 5 inches pictus catfish do.
Discus No shared temperature. Discus need 82–88°F, pictus catfish need 72–79°F.
Rummy nose tetra An adult pictus catfish eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2 inches rummy nose tetras do.
Panda cory An adult pictus catfish eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2 inches panda corys do.
Chili rasbora An adult pictus catfish eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 0.8 inches chili rasboras do.
Endler's livebearer An adult pictus catfish eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 1 inches endlers do.
African dwarf frog An adult pictus catfish is twice the size of an african dwarf frog and will hunt or batter a slow, long-finned fish like this.
Cardinal tetra An adult pictus catfish eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2 inches cardinal tetras do.
Ghost shrimp Pictus catfish hunt shrimp. Adult ghost shrimp will be eaten.
Silver arowana An adult silver arowana eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 5 inches pictus catfish do.
White cloud minnow White cloud minnows are coldwater animals (60–72°F); pictus catfish need 72–79°F. They meet only at 72°F, the edge of both ranges.
Fancy goldfish Fancy goldfish are coldwater animals (65–74°F); pictus catfish need 72–79°F. They overlap only at 72–74°F, the edge of both ranges.
German blue ram No shared temperature. Rams need 80–86°F, pictus catfish need 72–79°F.
Flowerhorn No shared temperature. Pictus catfish need 72–79°F, flowerhorns need 80–89°F.

Planning a mixed tank? The tank mate checker tests every pair at once. Or read the pictus catfish care sheet.

Questions

What are the best tank mates for pictus catfish?

Angelfish, Tiger barbs, Blue gouramis, Paradise fish, Corydoras. They share pictus catfish' temperature and pH and leave them alone.

What fish should not live with pictus catfish?

Bettas, Axolotls, Pea puffers, Oscars, Guppies. An adult pictus catfish is twice the size of a betta and will hunt or batter a slow, long-finned fish like this.

How is compatibility checked?

Each pair is compared on temperature and pH overlap, adult size and mouth size, fin nipping, temperament and territory. The worst result decides the verdict.