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I just got 2 pictus cats and i love them, only one problem.....what do they eat?




20 GALLON LONG CURRENTLY EMPTY ~~~~ 10 GALLON W/ STRIPPED CONVICT

By nature they are a carnivore/insectivore but in captivity they will take flake, pellet, frozen, and live foods. They don't seem to be very picky.

i am guessing it is a silver spotted pictus as they tend to be the most avalible.

i feed mines colorbits or frozen blood worms, and he will take that. i am not so sure about flakes.

I would try frozen and live foods, depending on its size. I'm not sure if theyed take flakes or not, I would use sinking foods.

Ethan 14- I like the term insectavore. ^_^

Inky

Ah, time for me to put on my pedant hat again!

"Pictus Cat" actually covers two separate sins, as it were ...

Here is a good illustration of why full scientific names are best for all concerned. The problem here is that there are TWO "Pictus Cats"!

First of these is the black and silver fish known to science as Pimelodus pictus, and which is most often sold as the "Pictus Cat" due to availability. This fish usually reaches 6 inches in length in the aquarium, but if you give it enough space, it might grow bigger, because in the wild, they can reach 12 inches ...

However, there is a second "Pictus Cat", much less frequently seen, but I've still seen it sold as a "Pictus Cat" - this one is Leiarus pictus (formerly known as Sciades pictus), and is another Pimelodid catfish from South America. However, you would know if you had this, because its appearance is very different from the silver and black fish listed in the previous paragraph - this is a dark mottled fish whose juveniles have impressive sail-like dorsal fins. The other difference is eventual size - Leiarus pictus reaches two feet, is a fast grower, and a well known "tank buster" if you make the mistake of buying one without researching its needs beforehand!

Both fishes do, however, have similar dietary requirements. Meaty foods will be demolished with gusto and relish. Once acclimatised, both of these fishes can be out and out garbage compactors with fins. With both fishes, it is advisable to avoid housing them with fishes small enough to fit into their mouths, though Pimelodus pictus is the better behaved of the two in this regard. However, both fishes ARE Pimelodid catfishes, and as such, make their living in the wild by snapping up all kinds of live animal organisms for food, including smaller fishes.

Once they discover that you are putting food in there (try a "lights out" feeding regime for a week or so to bed them in, then see if they become bolder during the day) chances are it won't be long before your biggest problem with them is restricting their feeding, because happy Pimelodid catfishes are like Labrador dogs - they'll eat until they're burping and fermenting. Which in the case of these fishes means they'll pass partially digested food out the back end if they're allowed to gorge, and consequently place a hefty loading on your biofilter.

If you want to see their faces light up, try live Bloodworm. The only aquarium catfish I've ever seen refuse live Bloodworm has been a dead catfish.


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

Be VERY careful with these and all other Pimelodid catfish! The little monsters have incredibly stretchable stomachs, allowing them to eat fish up to 2/3 their own body length. I had a "Shark Catfish" eat a Plecostomus of just that size once -- he couldn't quite get all the tail crammed down his gullet and had to swim around for a day or so with it sticking out of his mouth, but that didn't seem to bother him.

Sharkies aren't pims. They are sea cats.

Hmmm. Well, I've read about Pimelodids (and specifically Pictus) having comparably stretchable stomachs, so they must have that trait in common.