Pictus catfish
Pimelodus pictus
12 cm
Adult size
300 L
Minimum volume
3
Minimum group
8 years
Lifespan
Water parameters
Understand these values- Genus
- Pimelodus
- Diet
- carnivore
- Social life
- small group
In the wild
Overview
This silvery angel catfish with black spots and very long barbels is often sold as a bottom fish for community tanks of small species, which has cost the lives of countless neons and guppies. It lives 4 to 8 years on average in captivity; one fish reached 18 years.
- Scientific name
- Pimelodus pictus Steindachner, 1876
- Classification
- Siluriformes › Pimelodidae
- IUCN Red List
- Least concern (LC)
Natural habitat
Amazon and Orinoco basins: Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Brazil
Observations (GBIF) and localities Native countries Rivers and lakes
It lives in shallow, flowing water over sand or mud, in large rivers as well as their tributaries.
Behaviour
Fairly peaceful, but a predator: it only suits large tanks with fish that cannot be swallowed. Very active, especially at night, it can also disturb slow species such as many cichlids with its barbels. It does better in a group. It eats everything greedily: live or frozen prey, worms and sinking food. Its spines can sting when handled.
Sources:FishBase Seriously Fish GBIF · Base map: Natural Earth