The Pictus Catfish (Pimelodus pictus) is a captivating and popular choice among aquarium enthusiasts, celebrated for its striking appearance and manageable size. Ideal for those who admire catfish but have limited space, the Pictus Catfish offers a unique blend of beauty and activity.
Natural Habitat and Distribution
The Pictus Catfish is native to the diverse aquatic environments of South America, including Venezuela, Peru, Brazil, and Colombia. These catfish are predominantly found in the vast and complex river systems of the Amazon and Orinoco River Basins. In these regions, they thrive in a variety of habitats, including slow-moving waters, floodplains, and river channels, where they benefit from the abundant food sources and suitable environmental conditions. They can be found in shallower waters lurking at the bottom of main river systems and tributaries. The substrate is usually sandy or muddy and the current is flowing.
Physical Characteristics
The P. pictus features a shimmering, silvery body adorned with distinctive black spots along its back and sides. Its underside is whitish-silver and flat, ideal for bottom-feeding. This catfish boasts exceptionally long barbels that extend nearly the entire length of its body, which helps it navigate through dark or murky waters. At full size, the Pictus Catfish reaches about 5 inches (~13 cm) in length, giving an idea of how long their barbels can get. They use these barbels as sensory “feelers” to find their way around. Additionally, Pictus Catfish have sharp, serrated pectoral and dorsal fins equipped with venom that can cause significant pain if touched. While they don't use this defense aggressively, it serves them well when threatened. Be cautious when handling them, as their fins can easily get caught in nets, potentially causing stress or injury. Unlike most other species of catfish, Pimelodus pictus lacks scales.
Aquarium Setup
To ensure optimal health and well-being, Pictus Catfish require specific environmental conditions in their aquarium.
Water Parameters
Pictus Catfish thrive in warm water environments. The ideal temperature range for these fish is between 74-81° F (23.3-27.2° C) or 72 and 78°F (approximately 22 - 25°C). Pictus Catfish prefer slightly acidic to neutral water conditions. The pH level should be maintained between 5.8 and 7.2. For Pictus Catfish, the water hardness should be between 4 and 8°N dGH, which is approximately 71 - 143 ppm or 1.43 - 2.86 mEq. It is essential to be cautious when using chemicals and medications, as Pictus Catfish are sensitive to changes in their environment. Whenever possible, use medications sparingly and at reduced concentrations to minimize any potential adverse effects.
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Tank Size and Decor
Pictus Catfish are highly active and require a spacious aquarium to accommodate their energetic nature. The minimum tank size recommended for a pictus catfish is 55 gallons (208.2 L) with a longer tank being better than taller one to allow for more swimming space. To create an ideal habitat, ensure that the aquarium has ample swimming space. Incorporate plenty of caves and hiding spots into the tank design. Use rocks, driftwood, and other natural materials to create these shelters. The caves will offer Pictus Catfish places to retreat and feel secure, which is important for their well-being. Adding a few leafy plants can enhance the aquarium's aesthetics and provide additional cover. Both plastic and live plants are suitable options. Live plants not only add natural beauty but also help improve water quality by absorbing excess nutrients. Since Pictus Catfish are bottom feeders, it's crucial to use a substrate that is gentle on their delicate barbels and mouth. Opt for a smooth, fine gravel or sand substrate. This type of substrate will prevent injuries and abrasions while they forage for food on the tank floor.
Lighting and Current
Since these active fish stay on the bottom of the tank, they will need a fine substrate, like sand or silt, will work best to prevent injury. Pictus catfish will appreciate plenty of hiding places in the form of rocks and driftwood; more artificial hiding spots like plant pots may also be used. Because the aquarium is dimly lit, it could be difficult keeping plants. These fish also prefer a moderate water current as they are naturally found shoaling in the water flow of rivers and tributaries.
Feeding Habits and Diet
The Pictus Catfish, while primarily carnivorous, is known for its adaptable and diverse eating habits. In their natural habitat, they feed on a variety of small prey, and this preference continues in captivity. In addition to their preference for live and frozen foods, such as worms, insects, and beef hearts, Pictus Catfish will readily consume a variety of commercially available foods. Offering high-quality sinking catfish pellets or wafers ensures they receive the necessary nutrients while feeding at the bottom of the tank. To enhance their diet, you can also provide algae wafers and vegetable flakes. It’s essential to monitor their feeding habits and adjust portions accordingly. Overfeeding can lead to water quality issues and health problems, so providing small, frequent meals is generally recommended. A well-fed Pictus Catfish will display vibrant colors and active behavior, reflecting their good health and contentment. Pictus catfish should regularly be fed an assortment of high quality live, freeze-dried, and frozen foods. They will love worms (bloodworms, earthworms, and Tubifex worms) and brine shrimp. It is important to note that while this species of fish stays toward the lower portion of the tank and might look like a type of algae eater, pictus catfish will not solve your algae problems. Since these catfish try to eat anything that falls in front of them, they are prone to becoming overweight, causing their stomachs to become distended. It is important to make sure that your catfish is not eating too much; any frozen foods that are offered should be thawed ahead of time to keep your catfish from swallowing large portions of food at once.
Feeding a Newly Acquired Pictus Catfish
If a newly acquired Pictus Catfish refuses to eat, try offering freeze-dried flakes. Acclimate them to store-bought food by first giving them finely cut fish or shrimp, and then a mix of fish/shrimp and dried flakes, slowly increasing the flakes-to-fish ratio.
Social Behavior and Tank Mates
Unlike many other pimelodids, Pictus Catfish are sociable and thrive in groups. For optimal social behavior and well-being, it is recommended to keep Pictus Catfish in groups of 3 to 5 individuals. In a community tank, Pictus Catfish can coexist peacefully with other moderately aggressive fish that are of similar size or larger. Their active and playful nature allows them to integrate well with other species that match their temperament. However, caution is advised when introducing smaller fish. To ensure a harmonious tank environment, avoid housing Pictus Catfish with very small or timid fish that could become targets.
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Compatible Tank Mates
- Rainbowfish: These bright, attractive freshwater fish tend to be just as active as the pictus catfish. They share a similar peaceful demeanor and grow large enough to mostly be able to escape a hungry catfish. Rainbowfish will need to be kept in a school with an appropriate ratio of males to females to prevent harassment during spawning periods.
- Larger Gourami Species: For the most part, larger species will do better, though you will need to consider tank space and aggression.
- Giant Danios: While these fish can be kept alone in the aquarium, it is much more recommended to keep them in a small shoal.
Fish to Avoid
- Very Small Fish: Pictus catfish are usually sold as peaceful community fish, which often leads to poor tank compatibility with smaller fish quickly becoming food.
- Cory Catfish: Unless you have an extremely large tank, a pictus catfish and cory catfish combination probably won’t work. Cory catfish are also active schooling fish that take up a lot of space at the middle and bottom of the aquarium.
Activity and Behavior
Pictus catfish are fine swimming together, as long as they have plenty of room in the community tank. These fish tend to be very active and can be seen darting back and forth across the aquarium, especially in a group setting. Pictus catfish are mainly nocturnal fish. This means that they will be the most active when the lights are turning down and when they have completely shut off. Pictus catfish aren’t aggressive, but they are opportunistic feeders. This means that while they don’t have specific territories within the tank, they may still try to eat any small fish or invertebrates that come near them.
Distinguishing Males from Females
It can be very difficult to correctly sex pictus catfish. Females tend to be a little larger and stockier all around while males seem to be smaller and more streamlined.
Breeding
Details about breeding P. pictus are scarce. As of yet, the pictus catfish has not been bred in the aquarium hobby. This is most likely due to the species needing so much room to be active and create breeding pairs. These fish are egg layers, which means that the female will lay eggs which will then be fertilized by the male.
Potential Confusion with Other Species
Because these fish are sometimes mislabeled as a type of Angelicus catfish, they may be confused with another popular species, Synodontis angelicus. Synodontis angelicus are also most commonly known as angel squeakers and are a part of the Mochokidae family, largely known as the upside-down catfish. Angel squeakers (Synodontis angelicus). These fish grow a little larger than the pictus catfish and can reach a maximum length of 8 inches (20.3 cm) when fully grown. The main difference between angel squeakers and pictus catfish though is their coloring. Angel squeakers have a dark brown/black base color with lighter yellow-white spotting; this is the exact opposite of the black-on-white pictus catfish! While it is unlikely to find one in the aquarium trade, the pictus catfish is also sometimes confused with the sailfin pim (Leiarius pictus). However, these fish can easily reach 24 inches (60 cm) and are not usually a suitable addition to the typical home aquarium.
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