Do Pictus Catfish like to be in pairs?
It isn’t uncommon for people to keep Pictus Catfish as a single specimen; they will survive on their own with no problem. However, most people who keep them, do so in a shoal, as they are a shoaling species by nature. The advantage of keeping a shoal is they are much more active and will be more outgoing.
How often do you feed Pictus Catfish?
It’s best to feed your pictus cat every day, as these scavengers don’t deal well with fast days and might decide to snack on smaller fish instead. I usually offer them as much as they can eat in 2 minutes and then remove most of the leftovers.
Can I have 2 Pictus Catfish?
Pictus catfish do exceptionally well in shoals of 5 in general, and you can even keep up to six at once. However, ensure your tank is big enough. Recommended tanks of nearly 150 gallons are best when keeping them in groups. Also, note that Pictus catfish eat other smaller fish if they are hungry.
What do polkadot catfish eat?
As we already mentioned, Pictus Catfish will eat any type of food you give them, be it meat-based or plant-based. It might be tempting to just buy some flakes, but there are plenty of alternatives out there. Don’t shy away from giving them a variety of live foods, frozen foods, pellets, chicken meat and beef as well.
Can Pictus Catfish be kept alone?
Pictus Catfish are also social and should never be kept alone. All of these demands means that you should be keeping a group of 4 or more in a tank at least 40 gallons in size. Another reason for the larger tank is that these fish are purely carnivorous.
What temperature do Pictus Catfish like?
75°F-80°F
Water temperature: 70°F to 80°F is the commonly used range, but we recommend aiming for 75°F-80°F if possible. pH levels: 7-7.5 should be your target, although we’ve heard from people who have managed with slightly lower since these fish like soft water.
What size tank does a Pictus Catfish need?
50-55 gallons
Tank Size. The ideal pictus catfish tank size is 50-55 gallons. We prefer 55 as the minimum because these fish will definitely appreciate the extra space! Plan to add 40-50 additional gallons for each extra pictus cat you want to keep.
Why is my Pictus Catfish hiding?
Overcrowded Tank You will see an increasing hiding behavior with your catfish; some fish might also get more aggressive and territorial. And the catfish will usually require quite a lot of space to live. If you are keeping them for breeding, then you should aim for very large aquariums.
How fast do Pictus Catfish grow?
It takes 8 to 12 months for the Pictus Catfish fry to become a full-grown adult.
How long can Pictus Catfish go without food?
Three to four days is the maximum we would recommend, and then you need to be looking at alternative options.
What should the water temperature be for catfish?
When it comes to the minimum water temperatures for catfish, these are around 75 degrees Fahrenheit. But, the absolute minimum temperature for catfish is 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius). Again, you should not keep these fish under these sort of temperatures for prolonged periods.
What should I Feed my Pictus catfish?
As for water temperature, you should keep the water between 75-81°F, and the pH should be between 7.0 to 7.5. You will find in the wild that Pictus Catfish are scavengers and will eat pretty much anything that they can find. By nature they are omnivorous, so they will eat both meat and plant matter.
What fish make a good tank mate with a catfish?
Now as for which species make a good tank mate with the Catfish you can include strong, energetic species fish such as: Other Catfish (Loricariid, Doradidae such as Striped Raphael Catfish)
Are Pictus catfish good swimmers?
Pictus catfish are quite active and stunning swimmers by the nature and especially when they are compared to their more mellow catfish relatives of their family. A lot of new commers expect this and are surprised and shocked when they see the speed these fish display on a regular basis and the breeding is so easy.
What is the best substrate for a catfish tank?
As with most catfish, a fine sandy substrate is preferable. The addition of some driftwood roots and branches and perhaps some smooth rounded stones would help to simulate the kind of riverine environment the species inhabits in nature.
