Pictus catfish tank mates
A long-whiskered predatory catfish at 14 cm that eats any fish small enough to fit in its mouth. Often sold alongside tetras it will consume overnight.
Common mistakeAdding pictus catfish to a neon or ember community because they look peaceful by day is how keepers invent vanishing tetras. Pictus hunt at night; small fish disappear with no daytime chase to blame. Keep them with robust, similar-sized company in a large tank — not as “active cories” for a nano school.
Each name below opens a pair check with Pictus catfish. That check is the decision, not the list itself.
Usually safer companions
Conservative shortlist from this profile. Open a pair page before you buy.
The Pictus catfish profile lists Bala / silver shark as both safe and a recommended pairing. Bala / silver shark schools in groups of 5 or more, so plan room for the whole group rather than one fish. Bala / silver shark grows bigger than Pictus catfish (35cm vs 14cm). Stock the Pictus catfish group large enough to outnumber the Bala / silver shark, or the smaller fish ends up bullied or off food.
The Pictus catfish profile lists Congo Tetra as a recommended pairing. Congo Tetra schools in groups of 8 or more, so plan room for the whole group rather than one fish.
The Pictus catfish profile lists Giant danio as both safe and a recommended pairing. Giant danio schools in groups of 6 or more, so plan room for the whole group rather than one fish.
Risky or situational
May work with more water, a mature system, or a species-only setup. Read the pair page before you experiment.
Marked risky or situational on the profile. Tank length and group size change the outcome more than a temperament label does.
Marked risky or situational on the profile. Tank length and group size change the outcome more than a temperament label does.
Fish to avoid with Pictus catfish
Predation, aggression, or space rules on this profile. Treat these as poor default mixes.
Pictus catfish is flagged as predatory or as likely to eat small fish, and Chili Rasbora at 2cm is well within an adult Pictus catfish's gape.
Pictus catfish is flagged as predatory or as likely to eat small fish, and Ember Tetra at 2cm is well within an adult Pictus catfish's gape.
Pictus catfish is flagged as predatory or as likely to eat small fish, and Guppy at 5cm is well within an adult Pictus catfish's gape.
Pictus catfish is flagged as predatory or as likely to eat small fish, and Neon Tetra at 4cm is well within an adult Pictus catfish's gape.
Tank size and groups
- Published minimum for Pictus catfish: 250L. Group minimum 5 (schooling).
- Compatibility changes when the tank is too short for turning, too little for a real school, or too warm for one species and not the other. That is why pair checks include tank context, not only temperament.
- Nearest litre hub to this minimum: 250L hub.
Easier alternatives to consider
Hardier first-tank names from the library. Still read the profile. Not a substitute for reading this one.
Plan before you buy
Start a pair check with Pictus catfish, or open a starter plan with the top safer companions in the builder.
Tank hubs: 250L
Related reading
Guides that list other fish with the same trait, so you can plan around the group rather than one row.
- Fish that eat smaller tank mates →
Pictus catfish may eat anything that fits in its mouth as it grows.
- Schooling & group fish →
Plan the group of 5+ before choosing tank mates.
- Peaceful community fish →
Other peaceful species to shortlist beside Pictus catfish.
Filtration & heating
A 250L minimum tank for Pictus catfish needs a filter rated for at least 1000L/hr turnover and a heater maintaining 22–28°C.
Similar fish (same category)
- Cuckoo / petricola catfish · min 200L
- Twig / whiptail catfish · min 150L
- Emerald catfish (Brochis) · min 120L
- Bronze corydoras · min 100L
- Sterba's Corydoras · min 100L
- Upside-down Catfish · min 100L
- Adolfoi cory · min 80L
- Glass Catfish · min 80L
Other species that list Pictus catfish
Reverse lookup: these profiles reference Pictus catfish under safe or “best with” lists.
Pictus catfish tank mates — quick answers
- What fish can live with Pictus catfish?
- Usually safer companions on this hub include Bala / silver shark, Congo Tetra, Giant danio. Open each pair check before you buy — the list is a shortlist, not a guarantee.
- What tank mates should you avoid with Pictus catfish?
- Avoid Chili Rasbora, Ember Tetra, Guppy, Neon Tetra based on size, temperament, or predation risk on this profile.
- What size tank do Pictus catfish need for a community?
- 250L is the planning floor for adult swimming space and bioload. A 300L+ tank is the more comfortable long-term footprint. Length and depth matter as much as raw litres for active or territorial fish.