Pictus Catfish

[matty101]

I have a pictus catfish with my betta...they seem to get along decently...will/can there be any fights?

 

[CAC]

If there are any "fights" then it will be the betta that gets beat up, and by beat up, i mean eaten...
What size tank are they in?

 

[-*-MicHAeL-*-]

Your Pictus will eat your betta as soon as it is big enough to do so. Pictus cats can get to 10 inches. What setup do you have them in?

 

[cane76]

im betting 10" pictus are virtually unheard of in aquaria,a 8" one would be a bigger than most specimen imo

 

[JamieH]

im betting 10" pictus are virtually unheard of in aquaria,a 8" one would be a bigger than most specimen imo

agreed - i've never heard of them reaching more than 6"

 

[cane76]

7" is the biggest ive seen and i owned it myself but it died from a ich outbreak

 

[CAC]

The thing is though, the betta will be dead long before it gets to 10" anyway (even though it wont get that big), it will probably be edable when the pictus is 5"...Id take the betta out ASAP.

 

[cane76]

i would leave it in there but i dont like bettas

 

[stang1]

I wouldn't risk keeping the Betta with the Pictus for the same reasons others have stated. I also noticed on another thread that your Pictus is in a 5g tank. I really would advise moving him to a bigger tank or taking him back to your lfs as the tank is far too small. Pictus like to have plenty of room to swim around and being in such a confined space I can also see that this would cause problems.

 

[cane76]

stang is absolutely right pictus are active little catfish and 5 gallons is way to small even for a tiny one i would of thought

 

[matty101]

sorry guys he was moved into a 10g and he's only 2in long...for now..the betta merely looks at him and flees, knowing he'd outmatched. I made a few caves for him in my tank and he seems to enjoy staying there. But as was advised by all of you, when he reaches 3in, he will be returned or sold to a good LPS I know. Thanks a lot but one more question. I did a full water change because my tank was NASTY DIRTY. To feed the pictus, what exactly can I use? I had found that algae discs are rarely consumed and make quite the mess. Any other ideas? He, like most catfish, enjoys searching at the bottom. Any ideas? Oh and just another question I was wondering...He's 2inches long, could he eat a small guppy? I believe his mouth is big enough but I think I need to experiment j/k

 

[F.O.H]

keeping a pictus in a 5g would be like keeping a 5 year old child in a tiny little room on a sugar rush it would drive him/her mental.

 

[CAC]

Well TBH you should just take him back to the LFS instead of going to the LFS and getting food for him...
Bloodworms are your best bet for feeding him, algea flakes/pellets are not going to be eaten by him, hes a carnivor...

 

[cane76]

if a 10g is the biggest tank you have returning it is the best option

 

[matty101]

ok ill return him but thanks everyone...saved me a betta or 2