Dead Pictus Cats! Please help

[carttman]

I recently purchased some Pictus cats about a week ago, and when I looked in my tank this morning two of the fish were dead. Later that same day I noticed another fish died, and less than 24 hours later my last fish had died. I immediately did a test on my water and my readings were fine. The pH level was at 7.2, ammonia level 0 ppm, and the nitrites were at 0. The one thing I noticed was that only one of the four fish would eat vigorously. The other three fish would just swim at the bottom like they weren't hungry. I never really saw them eat. I would rotate feeding them different foods such as: tropical fish flakes, freeze dried blood worms, and sinking shrimp pellets. Did I do something wrong, or did I just have a bad bunch of fish? I did cycle my tank if that helps.

 

[Chris_Cooper]

My brother bought 2 pictus and after about 2-3 days both were dead.... I bought 2 pictus and after about 2-3 days both were dead... Not until the third time I tried to keep some did they live. I don't know why, but they just seem to die for no apparent reason. Water was fine in all cases. I've had two now for about a year.

 

[Toro Driver]

I havn't had any recently but year ago I purchased three. I understand that they are very sensitive to temperature changes. They are also delicate and don't recove well from stress.

 

[brianfl]

In general they are very adaptable. The only problems you will run into is they are very sensitive to ammonia/nitrite and can be sensitive to high levels of nitrate. Ph or temp isn't a large consideration if it is consistent. I've had them inside and outside at different temps and different ph levels.

 

[brianfl]

They are also sensitive to many medications.

 

[dave76]

I have found mine to be extremely hardy, I have had mine for about a year and a half and he has survived two moves, several medications and a large number of territorial battles with my Green Terror cichlid. The pim finally gave up the fighting and now just gets out of his way and everything is fine. Last week I was doing some rearranging and he survived being moved from one tank to another and then back to the original tank in about half an hour(he really did not like his new tank). imho you just got a couple of fish that were going to die anyway. You should carefully observe the activity of fish before you buy them. check with the LFS make sure that your water and thier water are not too different and if they are make sure that you acclimate them. The reason most people think that pictus are not hardy is because they have no scales. I have found that they are hardy fish. My pictus absolutley loves bloodworms and flake food. Add beef heart to that list and that is his gormet foods of choice. I hope you have better luck with your pictus and please dont give up on them cause your LFS didnt take care of them before you got them.