Pictus catfish
Pimelodus pictus
intermediate careOverview
The pictus catfish (Pimelodus pictus) is a sleek, silver, black-spotted catfish with long, sweeping barbels and boundless energy. Unlike the placid corydoras many keepers expect, the pictus is a fast, restless, nocturnal hunter that never seems to stop moving. It’s peaceful toward fish it can’t eat — but it will eat anything small enough to fit in its mouth. A rewarding fish for a big tank, provided you plan for its size, activity and appetite.
Tank & water
Adults reach 11–13 cm and swim hard, so a single fish or small group needs a minimum of 230 litres (60 gallons) with a long, open footprint.
- Smooth substrate: use sand or fine, rounded gravel. Sharp substrate shreds their sensitive barbels — a common, painful and avoidable problem.
- Space and flow: open swimming lanes plus caves and wood for daytime shade, with brisk, well-oxygenated flow from a strong filter.
- Water: pH 6.5–7.5, 23–27 °C on a reliable heater, kept clean — they are sizeable, messy eaters.
- A tight lid: they are powerful and jump. Note their spines can catch in nets — handle with care.
Feeding
An opportunistic omnivore, the pictus takes sinking pellets and wafers, quality flakes from the fish food range, and relishes meaty live and frozen foods — bloodworm, earthworm pieces, prawn and brine shrimp. Feed after lights-out to suit its nocturnal habits, and don’t overfeed this hungry, messy fish.
Tankmates
Pair it with peaceful fish too big to swallow: larger barbs and tetras, rainbowfishes, gouramis, larger bristlenose plecos and robust community fish. Several pictus can be kept together in a large tank and often shoal loosely. Avoid nano fish, shrimp and fry, which become prey.
Plan the tank with our best large aquarium guide and check stocking against how many fish in an aquarium.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Sharp gravel damaging their barbels
- Housing them with small fish or shrimp they eat
- Too small a tank for such an active swimmer
- Overfeeding and letting water quality slip
Pictus catfish — frequently asked questions
Will a pictus catfish eat my other fish?
Any fish small enough to fit in its mouth, yes. Pictus catfish are peaceful toward larger tankmates but are active nocturnal hunters that will eat neon tetras, small rasboras, shrimp and fry. Keep them only with fish too big to swallow.
Why does substrate matter for pictus catfish?
They have long, delicate barbels they constantly drag along the bottom to taste for food. Sharp gravel wears and damages these barbels, leading to infection. Use smooth sand or rounded, fine gravel to protect them.
How big do pictus catfish get and how much space do they need?
They reach about 11–13 cm and are fast, restless swimmers that patrol constantly, so they need a long tank of at least 230 litres (60 gallons). They are not suitable for small or medium community tanks.
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