All fish / Pimelodidae

Pictus Catfish

Pimelodus pictus

Also known as pictus cat, pictus catfish, angelicus pimelodus, polka dot catfish, spotted pimelodus, pim pictus, ピメロディス・ピクタス, 斑点长须鲶, 皮克特斯鲶

This slim silver catfish has bold black spots, very long whiskers and a deeply forked tail. People keep it because it is lively, active and much more visible than most catfish, especially when kept in a small group.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

11 cm

Temperature

22 to 26 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

200 litres

Keep as

Group of 3 or more

Diet

Omnivore: sinking pellets, frozen bloodworm, brine shrimp and chopped prawn

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

8 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Amazon and Orinoco basins (Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela)

Breeding

It has not been bred reliably in home aquariums. Fish sold in shops are thought to come from the wild or from commercial farms that use hormones.

Good to know

It will eat small fish such as neon tetras that fit in its mouth, and it needs plenty of swimming room. The fin spines are sharp and can cause painful stings or get caught in nets, so handle it carefully.