Pictus Catfish Care Guide
Pimelodus pictus · Moderate care · 55 gallon minimum
A fast, silver, spotted schooling catfish with long barbels; peaceful to tankmates too big to swallow.
Check your stocking with the stocking calculator →
How big does a pictus catfish get?
A pictus catfish (Pimelodus pictus) reaches about 5.0 inches as an adult. Plan tank size and tank mates around the adult size, not the small fish you buy at the store.
Tank size & setup
Give a pictus catfish a minimum of 55 gallons, with water at 75–81°F and a pH of 6.5–7.5. Keep them in groups of at least 3 — they are shoaling fish and become stressed and washed-out alone. As a moderate-care, carnivore species, a stable, cycled tank with the right diet keeps them healthiest.
Good tank mates
Pair a pictus catfish with peaceful species that share its temperature and pH range. Compatible options include:
- Neon Tetra — 1.5", 10g min
- Guppy — 2.0", 10g min
- Molly — 4.0", 20g min
- Platy — 2.5", 10g min
- Zebra Danio — 2.0", 10g min
About the pictus catfish
Pimelodus pictus, also known as the pictus cat or pictus catfish, is a small member of the catfish family Pimelodidae, native to the Amazon and Orinoco river basins and commonly kept as a pet in freshwater aquariums. Pictus catfish are sometimes mislabeled as Angelicus cats in the aquarium trade, but the latter name actually refers to an unrelated African catfish, the mochokid Synodontis angelica.
Recommended gear for pictus catfishs
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.