Pictus Cat with...

E

eDavid

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Jun 20, 2012
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Zebra/glolight danios, rummy nose? They are supposed to get 2-2.5 inches long, and I keep reading wildly different sizes for pictus. And the answer I've read is what's big enough to fit in their mouth. That doesn't help until you find out the hard way. Is there some kind of inch size on what can fit in their mouth anyone can tell me?


Thanks
 
I wish I had something to tell you. I think there are a few different species all being sold as "pictus". I've seen descriptions ranging from 4" up to 2'. I've only had mine about a month, and I LOVE them, but I'm debating on how to change my stocks when my 125 gets set up. Do I need to move them there (and possibly to something bigger), or leave them in my 55...
 
Thanks Yoda, I did find these two bits online that might be part of the problem...

There are two different types of Pictus catfish commonly sold in pet stores. This is probably where you are getting conflicting information. The other problem is they can be confused when they are small. Spotted pictus catfish only reach 5-6 inches in length. They are more of a social schooling catfish. They do fine on their own, but are definitely more active if kept in a group of their own kind. Four lined pictus catfish reach 8-10 inches in length. They are definitely more of a solitary fish and are aggressive towards most other cats.

and

The Four-lined Pimodella is often confused with its relative the Pictus Pimodella or Pictus Cat Pimelodus pictus. However the Four-lined Pimelodus doesn't have the spotted patterning of the Pictus catfish. Also it is a much larger catfish, reaching about 8 inches (20 cm) in the aquarium while the Pictus Pimelodus only reaches only about 4 1/2 inches (11 cm) in the aquarium.

Maybe I should be asking how big a fish can a 4.5-6 inch fish fit in its mouth?
 
Well, my quartet are 4" now, and I keep them just fine with both Neon Tetras, and Glowlights, as well as some juvenile guppies. I honestly haven't seen ANY interest in eating or prey drive in them. The love to play and are super active, but seem mostly interested in just exploring and following my Corys like lost puppies, lol. Mine are the spotted variety, btw.

I saw a lot of the same info, and then this site clearly says the Pimelodus can get up to 25cm ~8in. :-\ Just no clear answers...
http://www.aquahobby.com/gallery/e_pictus.php

The BULK of it seems to agree that the Pimelodus (Spotted) is the smaller one, which would be ideal. :)
 
Are the websites referring to standard length or total length? Standard length is the length of the fish from the tip of the nose (rostrum) to the base of the tail fin (the end of the caudal peduncle). Total length is the length of the fish from the tip of the rostrum to the end of the caudal fin. Lack of clarification on which measurement is being used can cause a lot of confusion as to just how large a fish can get. When deciding how big of a tankmate a fish can eat, standard length is the one ya want to use.

I've regularly had pictus cats, Pimelodus pictus, reach 4 1/2" to 5" SL in my aquariums, which put them at 6"+ TL. The four-line pictus, Pimelodus blochii, will easily reach 8" SL in the aquarium; my two right now are around 8" SL and they're both pushing 10" TL. I've seen pics of larger.

You'll get differing suggestions and experiences on how big tankmates for pictus cats should be. The general rule of thumb I use is not to house them (or any predatory catfish) with any fish less than 1/2 the standard length of the catfish. I've never housed glowlights, neons, cardinals, rasboras, or livebearers with pictus cats. I know people who have successfully, and I know people who have had these tankmates eaten by the pictus. I personally don't suggest it.

WYite
 
Thanks for the info and personal experience! :-)

Sent from my DROID RAZR using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
 
eDavid said:
Zebra/glolight danios, rummy nose? They are supposed to get 2-2.5 inches long, and I keep reading wildly different sizes for pictus. And the answer I've read is what's big enough to fit in their mouth. That doesn't help until you find out the hard way. Is there some kind of inch size on what can fit in their mouth anyone can tell me?


Thanks
Click to expand...
I once had a pictus (love the way they look!) that my wife hated. Once it got to be about 8 inches, it ate all of the slim bodied tetras (including the neons my wife prefers) it could chase down. It left my black phantoms alone. I would guess that the danios and rummy nose are going to be about that same size, so if you end up with a pictus big enough, they're going to find themselves on the menu.
 
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