Pictus Catfish

Pimelodus pictus

Also known as: Pictus cat, Angel catfish, Pictus

Water Parameters

• Temperature: 23–27°C
• pH: 6.5–7.5
• Hardness (GH): 36–214 ppm (2–12 dGH)

Values above are general hardness (GH). For carbonate hardness (KH), the buffer that keeps pH stable, see the water parameters guide.

Care Summary

A sleek, silver, leopard-spotted catfish with long flowing barbels and a restless, energetic nature quite unlike the placid corydoras most keepers know, the pictus is one of the most popular medium-sized aquarium catfish. It is genuinely peaceful toward fish it cannot eat, but its appetite and speed make tankmate size the whole question: small community fish and shrimp are food, while large, fast companions are ignored. Given a roomy tank with strong flow, open swimming space, and a few caves for daytime shelter, plus a group of its own kind, it is an active, hardy, long-lived fish that patrols the tank constantly and feeds with gusto. Mind the sharp spines when moving it. A characterful centrepiece for a large community of robust fish, and an honest reminder that 'peaceful' and 'safe with small fish' are not the same thing.

Tankmates

A fast, active, nocturnal-leaning catfish that is peaceful in temperament but an opportunistic predator in practice: anything small enough to fit in its mouth (neon tetras, small rasboras, shrimp, fry) will be eaten, often overnight. It is not aggressive toward larger fish and makes a fine companion for big, fast, robust tankmates such as silver dollars, bala sharks, denison barbs, larger rainbowfish, and bigger catfish. It is a social fish best kept in a group of three or more, where it is far more active and confident. Two practical notes: it is a constant, powerful swimmer that needs real horizontal space, and it has sharp, stiff pectoral and dorsal spines that snag easily in nets and can give a painful jab, so move it with a container rather than a net.

Compatible with

• Silver Dollar
• Bala Shark
• Denison Barb
• Boeseman's Rainbowfish
• Clown Loach
• Bristlenose Pleco

Avoid keeping with

• Betta
• Neon Tetra
• Ember Tetra
• Chili Rasbora
• Cherry Shrimp
• Guppy

Common Problems

• predation on small tankmates and shrimp
• needing horizontal swimming space and a group
• sharp spines that catch in nets and can injure
• sensitivity to poor water quality as a scaleless catfish

Sources: seriouslyfish.com, fishbase.org · Last updated: 2026-06-20