What tank size does a Pictus Catfish need?

A Pictus Catfish needs an aquarium of at least 240 litres (63.4 US gallons) with a footprint at least 120 cm (47.2 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.

What water parameters does a Pictus Catfish need?

Pictus Catfish does best at 22–26 °C (71.6–78.8 °F), pH 6–7.8 and a general hardness of 2–18 °dGH.

What group size does a Pictus Catfish need?

Pictus Catfish is a social species — keep a group of at least 5 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.

Is the Pictus Catfish suitable for beginners?

Pictus Catfish sits in the middle of the difficulty scale — manageable for a careful beginner who has done the reading, but it has specific needs worth researching first.

Species library

Pictus Catfish

Pimelodus pictus

Pimelodidae

FishDifficulty: ●●●○○Data: well-established

Pictus Catfish — Pimelodus pictus — 📷 source not recorded

About

The pictus catfish is a slender, silvery South American catfish from the Amazon and Orinoco basins, patterned with bold black spots and trailing whisker-like barbels that reach past its tail. Perpetually active and fast-swimming, it is peaceful toward similarly sized companions but an opportunistic predator that will swallow any fish small enough to fit in its mouth.

Care

Keep a group of 5 or more in a long, open tank of at least 240 L with soft sand, gentle current and dim lighting. House only with robust fish too large to be eaten, cover the tank against jumping, and handle with care around the sharp locking spines.

Diet

Meaty omnivore that scavenges the bottom by night; offer sinking pellets plus frozen or live bloodworm, brine shrimp and earthworms, and never house with bite-sized tankmates.

Tankmate compatibility

Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.

Telling males from females

What works for this species, most reliable first.

Adult sizeA hint only · only across animals of the same age
In many cichlids, catfish and loaches one sex simply grows larger — usually the male, though there are well-known reversals.

All the methods, with diagrams

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Bottom dwellers

Frequently asked questions

What tank size does a Pictus Catfish need?: A Pictus Catfish needs an aquarium of at least 240 litres (63.4 US gallons) with a footprint at least 120 cm (47.2 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
What water parameters does a Pictus Catfish need?: Pictus Catfish does best at 22–26 °C (71.6–78.8 °F), pH 6–7.8 and a general hardness of 2–18 °dGH.
What group size does a Pictus Catfish need?: Pictus Catfish is a social species — keep a group of at least 5 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.
Is the Pictus Catfish suitable for beginners?: Pictus Catfish sits in the middle of the difficulty scale — manageable for a careful beginner who has done the reading, but it has specific needs worth researching first.

Sources

Water & tank

Temperature22–26°C

Optimal temp.23–25°C

pH6–7.8

Hardness (GH)2–18°d

Carbonate (KH)1–12°d

Adult size13 cm

Min. volume≥ 240 L

Min. tank length≥ 120 cm

Group size≥ 5

Swimming zoneBottom

TemperamentPeaceful

Water typeFreshwater

FlowModerate

Lifespan~8 yrs

Try in the calculator