Newbie here - addicted

courtnee · Post by **courtnee** » 23 Dec 2006, 02:11

I am finding out I am addicted to catfish!!!! I started my fish keeping hobby about 6mo ago with a 1gl tank and a Betta. I am now a owner of 10gl (1 male betta) tank and a 55gl tank! I am itching for a 125gl tank. I am going to start to buy things for the 125gl and hope by summer to have it.

My 55gl tank was bought for pictus cats. I am addicted to spotted pictus catfish. I hear often how they will eat anything that will fit in their mouths. I dont care! lol That is the nice thing having a tank based on my pictus.

I have tetras in the tank so there is something in the tank that is not on the bottom. I went with 8 white skirts and 8 serpae tetras as they are larger. If by chance they do become dinner that is okay with me. I dont want it to happen but I am comfortable with the chance. That completes my school of fish in my tank.

I own 3 spotted pictus cats all small and 1 four line pictus . That is where I am stopping with pictus. The tank is not planted and I have the corners set up with fake plants and logs for them them to hide in. I have tall plants to one corner for the tetra to hide in. In the middle is one more log for pictus hiding. Other wise I keep the tank wide open for my pictus to have plenty of room to swim on the bottom.

I guess the 4 line will get bigger compared to the spotted and I am prepared for a bigger home (hense the 125gl) and I am looking forward to big healthy pictus. My 4 line is by far the big baby in the tank. It is about 4-5 inches. The spotted are I would say the biggest at 4 the other two are 3inch or so they were smaller. They are growing though.

Anyone else on the forum love keeping pictus?

Sandtiger · Post by **Sandtiger** » 23 Dec 2006, 05:14

I have a pictus and a whiteline in a 75g with my oscar, all of them are about 3.5 years old. I enjoy the pictus and whiteline a lot (or at least ,I think it's a whiteline).

courtnee · Post by **courtnee** » 23 Dec 2006, 05:24

Oh how cute. They look so healthy. How big is that pictus?

The new bigger one I have I enjoy a lot because his face is so much bigger to see expressions coming from their faces. I love seeing their little mouths like they are talking. LOL The whiskers get me every time. I love it.

This is a picture the other day of my smallest pictus. He always comes to me when I am at the tank.

sidguppy · Post by **sidguppy** » 23 Dec 2006, 10:25

Sandtiger, that's not a pictus, too many spots and all in rows too. looks more like a P maculatus to me.

courtnee · Post by **courtnee** » 23 Dec 2006, 17:34

Looks like a four line pictus cat to me. The lines and uniform of the spots.

Right now I am debating if I have 3 spotted pictus and 1 four line

or if I have 2 spotted pictus and 2 four line pictus cats.

I bought two spotted pictus first. I had them for awhile and went back to the store and got another. I got home to release him and noticed he was not the bright silver color, his whiskers are darker etc. He does not have distinct lines but he looks more four line than spotted pictus.

He hides all the time until the lights go out. I dont see him often. In fact I got a picture of him today just as I see him all the time. Just a head peeking out. LOL

His whiskers are darker like the 4 line, his color is closer to the 4 line as well. I know that is not a great pic of just his head sticking out but you can see his color.

This is my 4 line

They appear to much alike to me. Why I think I have two four lines. What do you think?

This is the only spotted pictus that allows photos. LOL I have two that look just like this, this is just the smallest one the other one is a little bigger. Bright silver color and white whiskers.

Post by **Marc van Arc** » 23 Dec 2006, 18:33

Hi Courtnee,
You have 2 non-pictus specimen. Have a look at and .

courtnee · Post by **courtnee** » 23 Dec 2006, 18:42

Pimelodus albofasciatus

Looks just like them. Are they a form of pictus cat fish? related?

Post by **Marc van Arc** » 23 Dec 2006, 19:31

courtnee wrote:Pimelodus albofasciatus.
Looks just like them. Are they a form of pictus cat fish? related?

Yes, hence they have the same genus name (Pimelodus).