FishProfiles.com Message Forums

I wouldn't put a pictus catfish in with an oscar; especially if the oscar has been fed live food.

I've done it in three tank setups. In two out of the 3 the pictus cat was killed. In the third he found a hiding spot and only came out at night for a very long time. Eventually the oscar left him alone.

Just watch the tank carefully. I've seen it sucessfully done in the fish store tanks, but it never worked out for me.

Koi

Empty chairs at empty tables, the room silent, forlorn.

Its been a few weeks and my Pictus and oscar get along great. Its seems he actually prefers to not be in the cave I have. Actually the Oscar and the Haps. fight a lot more.Thanks for all your info.

Oh. I am in agreement with you then.

I said without intelligent behavoir Maybe my post was read too quickly. I think they are stupid fish. But I think they are different in their behavoirs depending on how they were raised in what size tank how they are fed etc.

Koi

Empty chairs at empty tables, the room silent, forlorn.

I'll split on this one. IME pictus are not schooling(but yes pretty dumb) . But at the Shedd(Chicago), there are hundreds together(schooling), in a huge tank. Maybe in the wild or closer conditions, but not in the average(75-125g). To the original post, yes you should be fine.

I must disagree. Pictus, as with all siluriformes, are stupid fish. Furthermore, as a pictus "keeper" from the very beginning, I have noticed territorial tendencies from blochi complex and ornatus complex fishes, coinciding with the behavior of nearly all pims. I have, incidentally, alos never seen my pictus eat smaller tetras (liveearers, on the other hand are eaten with gusto), though they are well documented eating any and all small fishes with no qualms about family origin.

I'm going to take a flaming position


In my tanks I've kept them in 55 gallon, 30 gallon (as juvies), and 125 gallon where hey they are in there now; mine always stick together and there is no fighting and yes at this point I consider them fully grown adult specimens.

It isn't a matter of keeping the same hiding spots because lets face it they arent hiding. It isn't about territories because as far as I can tell they could care less, mine have not exhibited any sort of territorial behavoirs and they are forced to share the 125 with many other species of bottom dwelling fish including cories loaches plecos etc. I am a mainly bottom dwelling fish fan.

I am not sure we as keepers fully understand these fish. They are pretty individual so far as I can tell. I have seen spoecimens who will carnivorously eat anything that fits in their mouths. Yet my two adults don't bother my endlers in the same tank. Go figure. I won't claim to be an expert by far, but I have kept them for about 5 yeears now and this is just what I've figured out in that time frame. I think they are very individual fish just like oscars. (but without what I would consider intelligent behavoir/recognition)

Goodluck with your fish

Koi

Empty chairs at empty tables, the room silent, forlorn.

My oscar is 9" and his mate is 8" she is prety.

Now Babel, we all are learning new things every day. I admit it, at one time I used to think they were schooling fish as well. And if I had to guess, I would say most everyone on this thread, at one time or another, thought that way too. But we are all learning all the time.

_____________________________________________________________

There is always a bigger fish...

Funny *ROLLS EYES*

I got nothing but flames when I mentioned that there was a solitary pictus in a used tank I bought fully stocked. I could even mention the names but that would just be personal attacks wouln't it .

^_^


[hr width='40%'][/font]

Just a quick question. I want to transfer my Pictus cat (5" long) into my 55 gal. In the 55 I have 1 oscar(5-6" 1 common pleco (4-5" and 1 Electric Blue Haps. (4-5". Just wondering if this would be o.k.

At young ages, pictus and related species are found in truly massive congregations of thousands of indivduals. Once they hit a reasonable size, you can expect them to start growing belligerent towards conspecifics and start donning the trademark territoriality of similar pims. Even adult animals will shoal in times of stress. Once well established, however, they will literally distance themselves as far away from one another as possible.

Pictus Catfish are solitary catfish that simply tolerate being kept with their own kind (that is, if the tank size permits it). They are actually likely to fight among themselves if they are kept together and they feel they do not have enough territory, and it is not uncommon for them to seriously injure themselves in these disputes. It is best for them to be kept alone to avoid any problems.

I must agree with Cory there. It is a misconception that they are schooling fish.

_____________________________________________________________

There is always a bigger fish...

"Not only are these fish very active (as I'm sure you've discovered by now ) but they're also schooling/shoaling."

Whoever told you that is an idiot. Pictus Catfish are solitary catfish that simply tolerate being kept with their own kind (that is, if the tank size permits it). They are actually likely to fight among themselves if they are kept together and they feel they do not have enough territory, and it is not uncommon for them to seriously injure themselves in these disputes. It is best for them to be kept alone to avoid any problems.

You've probably only seen their behavior in crowded stock tanks as opposed to a real, established tank. Catfish are unintelligent, even as far as fish go, and all Pictus cats think pretty much exactly alike. If there's a hiding place in a stock tank, every single Pictus Cat is going to be crowded into it, and if there's a piece of food every single Pictus Cat is going to be crowded around it. This can cause an illusion of social behavior.

---

I'm not your neighbor, you Bakersfield trash.

They do prefer company and mine also took ownership of one of the large caves.

Have a look in [link=My Profile]http://
www.fishprofiles.com/interactive/forums/profile.asp?userid=6741" style="COLOR: #00FF00[/link] for my tank info

[link=Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tanks]http://photobucket.com/albums/b209/keithgh/Betta%20desktop%20tank/" style="COLOR: #00FF00[/link]

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

You refer to it as "pictus cat" from that I can only assume that it is one.
Not only are these fish very active (as I'm sure you've discovered by now ) but they're also schooling/shoaling.

I'd highly suggest you consider looking to upgrade the tank for your pleco and oscar in the next few months, they both need more space. Also make sure you've got a decent school of picti, they'll also fully enjoy added swimming room.

They're really very fun fish .

^_^[hr width='40%'][/font]

it would be ok, only if u have places to move the oscar, and pleco.

Agreed. Your pictus is large enough to be introduced in the same tank as the oscar. One thing though.... that tank will be a bit "crowdy" pretty soon, if not already.

Sponge

Will be fine. I see no problems with those fish.

_____________________________________________________________

There is always a bigger fish...