Pictus Catfish
Pimelodus pictus · family Pimelodidae
Parameters
- Temperature
- 22–26 °C
- pH
- 6–7.5
- Hardness
- 5–20 °dGH
- Tank volume
- from 200 L
- Maximum size
- up to 15 cm
- Group size
- min 3, ideal 4
- Temperament
- Semi-aggressive
- Swimming zone
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Lifespan
- 8–10 years
Description
Active nocturnal catfish with a silver-and-black spotted pattern. Unlike most catfish, swims throughout the tank, especially evenings.
Care
Group of 3–4. Sharp fin spines — handle carefully, avoid nets (will tangle).
Feeding
Predator: bloodworm, brine shrimp, sinking catfish pellets, fish pieces. Feed in the evening.
Compatibility
Compatibility data not yet available.
FAQ
- Will pictus catfish eat small neons?
- Yes — anything mouth-sized is fair game. Don't keep them with small tetras or shrimp. Tankmates of 5 cm+ work: barbs, cichlids, larger tetras.
Goldie editorial team
Practising aquarists with a combined 30+ years of experience · Biologists and editors, fact-checking against FishBase and Seriously Fish · Every piece is reviewed by a qualified ichthyologist before publication
Scientific board — ichthyologists and veterinarians
Ichthyologists and veterinarians with university degrees · Reference FishBase, Seriously Fish and peer-reviewed literature · Sign every reviewed article with their credentials shown
Sources
- Wikipedia: Pimelodus pictus · Wikipedia · 2026-05-22