🐡 Pictus Catfish Pimelodus pictus

The Pictus Catfish (Pimelodus pictus) is a moderate-care, semi-aggressive species from Amazon and Orinoco basins. Adults reach roughly 5", so plan on a minimum tank of 55 gallons. Keep the water between 75–81°F with a pH of 6.5–7.5. This is a schooling fish — keep a group of at least 3 so it feels secure and colors up. It is predatory and will eat fish small enough to fit in its mouth. As a carnivore, it does best on a varied diet appropriate to its feeding style.

At a glance

Good tankmates for Pictus Catfish

MollySwordtailAngelfishPearl GouramiThree-Spot GouramiBristlenose PlecoClown LoachDenison BarbBoesemani RainbowfishMadagascar RainbowfishKissing GouramiMoonlight GouramiFiremouth CichlidSeverumElectric Blue AcaraBlue AcaraYoyo LoachDojo LoachRubber Lip PlecoSiamese Algae EaterBala SharkRainbow SharkFlying FoxSilver DollarTurquoise RainbowfishRed RainbowfishSnakeskin GouramiGold SeverumChocolate CichlidFestivum CichlidStriped Raphael CatfishWeather LoachHorseface LoachLeopard Frog Pleco (L134)Gold Nugget Pleco (L177)Vampire ShrimpRed SwordtailSailfin Molly

Avoid these tankmates

Neon TetraCardinal TetraRummynose TetraSerpae TetraGuppyEndler's LivebearerPlatyDiscusGerman Blue RamOscarZebra DanioHarlequin RasboraChili RasboraCherry BarbWhite Cloud MinnowBronze CoryPanda CoryOtocinclusCherry ShrimpAmano ShrimpNerite SnailMystery SnailMarble HatchetfishEmber TetraBlack Neon TetraLemon TetraGlowlight TetraBloodfin TetraDiamond TetraEmperor TetraSilver Tip TetraX-Ray TetraGreen Neon TetraCelestial Pearl DanioLambchop RasboraPearl DanioGlowlight DanioCheckerboard BarbFive-Banded BarbNeon Dwarf RainbowfishThreadfin RainbowfishHoney GouramiSparkling GouramiChocolate GouramiParadise FishJack DempseyTexas CichlidFrontosaMultifasciatusPygmy CorySterbai CoryJulii CoryHillstream LoachChinese Algae EaterDwarf PufferfishBlack Ghost KnifefishRopefishSenegal BichirLeast KillifishCommon GoldfishFancy GoldfishRosy Red MinnowGhost ShrimpCrystal Red ShrimpAssassin SnailRamshorn SnailMalaysian Trumpet SnailGold TetraPenguin TetraFlame TetraGalaxy RasboraPhoenix RasboraEmerald Eye RasboraAxelrod's RasboraLeopard DanioGold Ring DanioRuby BarbMelon BarbForktail Blue-eyeLicorice GouramiCroaking GouramiPeaceful BettaStrawberry BettaGolden RamBanjar Red CichlidMidas CichlidFlowerhornYellow Dwarf CichlidHongsloi CichlidVenustus CichlidLivingstonii CichlidShell-DwellerAlbino CoryThree-Striped CoryAdolfo's CoryHabrosus CoryZebra OtoDwarf Chain LoachBlue Dream ShrimpYellow ShrimpBlack Diamond ShrimpBumblebee ShrimpRed Claw CrabLyretail KillifishClown KillifishHigh-Fin PlatyAmerican FlagfishIndian Glassfish

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