Pictus catfish

Care at a glance

The pictus catfish from the Amazon and Orinoco is silvery with black spots and carries barbels that reach past its tail. It is surprisingly fast and active, also at dusk, and tirelessly patrols the whole tank.

It needs a long tank with an open floor of sand, because coarse gravel wears down its sensitive barbels. Bear in mind that anything fitting in its mouth eventually disappears, so no nano fish or shrimp, and take care with a net: its pectoral spines snag in the mesh.

Good to know

• Active at night
• Preys on shrimp and snails
• Venomous spines — handle with care

Best not combined with

• Neon tetraParacheirodon innesi
• Ember tetraHyphessobrycon amandae

Related species

• Common plecoHypostomus plecostomus
• Glass catfishKryptopterus vitreolus
• Clown plecoPanaqolus maccus
• Neon dwarf rainbowfishMelanotaenia praecox
• Boesemani rainbowfishMelanotaenia boesemani
• Siamese algae eaterCrossocheilus oblongus