Pictus catfish

[Vivid-Dawn]

Do Pictus Catfish eat ghost shrimp?
I got about 10 shrimp, to be janitors...and two weeks later, I can't find any! Now I realize they're difficult to find in the first place (being "ghosts" and all), but I can usually find a few out and about.
A couple days after I bought the shrimp, one of my catfish had a rather fat belly...and I could only find about 7 shrimp from then on. Then a few days ago I could only find 4... and now none. No fat bellies, but I do have 3 catfish...they could be sharing!

Should I bother buying more shrimp?

 

[bunjiweb]

Wouldnt surprise me at all. Pictus can be predatory, and although alot of the time they are absolutely fine with fish, an irresistable target like a shrimp would be hard to pass up. I suspect hes had a lovely feast for the past week or 2.

Ben

 

[andywg]

If you want to give your pictus some nice feeders then buy away

P. pictus are seriously preadtory and will eat anything up to half their length (and then some in a number of cases) and will be more than happy to snack on ghost shrimp.

 

[CFC]

Wouldnt surprise me at all. Pictus can be predatory, and although alot of the time they are absolutely fine with fish, an irresistable target like a shrimp would be hard to pass up. I suspect hes had a lovely feast for the past week or 2.

Ben

[snapback]911002[/snapback]​

Theres no "can be" about it, pictus cats like all Pimeloids are serious predators that will make a snack of anything that fits into their mouth without a seconds thought about it.

 

[bunjiweb]

I say "Can Be" Because I have seen them kept in community tanks with neon tetras and no problems occur.

Yes, on the whole they are predatory, but As Pims go they are bottom of the ladder.

Ben

 

[Vivid-Dawn]

Well, turns out I still have two shrimp. Since I have cichlids in the tank, there are quite a few hiding places (I also did that, so the catfish would have somewhere to hide/sleep during the day).
I think I won't bother with buying anymore ghost shrimp, though. I just wanted them to take care of the sections of tanks I don't get to for a while when vacuuming the gravel, since I do one side/half every other week.

After I get my Neon Tetra tank set up, maybe I'll put some in there. Then both "snacks" can live all safely together! LOL