Species Profile
Pictus Catfish
Pimelodus pictus
Also known as: Pictus Cat, Polka Dot Catfish, Angel Catfish
Catfishsemi-aggressive
Adult size
5″
Minimum tank
55 gal
Temperature
72–78°F
pH
6.5–7.5
Schooling
Solitary OK
Water level
bottom
Diet
Sinking pellets, frozen, live
Notes
Sleek silver active catfish with bold black spots, unlike most catfish, schools mid-water during the day. Will eat any fish small enough to fit in its surprisingly wide mouth (neons, embers, juvenile rasboras all at risk).
Compatible Tankmates
Best tank mates for Pictus Catfish
Every species below passes the compatibility engine when paired with Pictus Catfishin a suitably sized tank. Verdicts come from the same rules the builder uses — click a card to see that species' own care profile and its tank mates in turn.
Cardinal Tetra
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Harlequin Rasbora
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Zebra Danio
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Fancy Guppy
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Platy
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Molly
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Swordtail
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Dwarf Gourami
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Honey Gourami
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Bolivian Ram
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Bronze Corydoras
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Panda Corydoras
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Photo: Claire H. / Wikimedia Commons · Source · CC-BY-SA-2.0