Pictus Cats - tankmates

[Krabby]

Hi all,

Not new to fishkeeping, but new to pictus cats - I've just got a fluval roma 200 (biggest tank I've had since I was a surly teen ) and the family have decided that pictus cats should be central to the community. Having done some research, I've decided that a small group of three would be better than a single cat, but am having some difficulty in deciding on tank mates for these over-active big-mouths! See below for a list of possible candidates, your opinions would be most welcome, as would further suggestions!

Pearl Gouramis (3 or more, maybe)
Twig catfish/Farrowela (1 or 2)
Neon rainbowfish (x6 at least)
Kribs (pair)

Thank you!

p.s. anyone else have problems registering with a hotmail address?

[MatsP]

Most fish "big enough not to fit in their mouth" and/or active at night [which is when the pictus are most active] will be fine. Nippy fish, such as barbs are not good because they tend to bite the barbels. Neons and other small bodied tetras will be on the pictus menu at some point or another, because the sleep at the bottom of the tank at night, which makes them a very "good meal" in the pictus's view of things.

I personally would recommend a group of perhaps 5-6 rather than three - but three is certainly better than one, and two is definitely not a good number.

I don't see anything particularly on your list to object to. Others may differ.

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Mats

[Richard B]

Those choices seem fine - Mats is right that a bigger than 3 group would actually be better.

There are still hundreds of other options if you wanted to consider other species but those you've highlighted seem good choices

[MatsP]

I always find that when I set up a new tank, I have an idea that I will put x, y and z in it. But by the time I've got x in the tank, I've changed my mind on y and z, and go for b and c instead.

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Mats

[Bas Pels]

last tank I set up, I had the difficult to get A, B and C before I goty the tank

It does make life easier, but not that exciting

[Krabby]

Thanks for you advice, folks. I'll certainly consider a bigger group, depending on how many/what other species I decide on...

One more question - would there be a problem in putting 3 cats in at first, then adding a few more further down the line? (territorially speaking)

Thanks again

[MatsP]

Thanks for you advice, folks. I'll certainly consider a bigger group, depending on how many/what other species I decide on...

One more question - would there be a problem in putting 3 cats in at first, then adding a few more further down the line? (territorially speaking)

Yes, you CAN do that, but it's probably better to start with one whole group, rather than adding more later. [I bought three first, then another three, but if I had to do it again, I'd get 6 small ones, rather than three big and then three smaller one]. The pictus cats shouldn't be your first fish anyways, you should put something that can tolerate the swings of water quality whilst the tank becomes mature first.

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Mats