Pimelodella Pictus info?

[Anthonyck]

I am hemming and hawing with my plans regarding my new 20 gal setup. Among the species of which I have always been fond is the spotted pictus. Nobody local seems to know anything about them, other than hating them because they get stuck in nets.

Can someone who owns them tell me more, and particularly if a small group could be sustained in a 20 gal tank, and with what type of tank mates (if any, based on the size of tank).

Also, just browsing on AquaBid, I see wild-caught "pimelodella angellicus." These were from Peru. Thoughts?

Thanks,

Anthony

[racoll]

You mean

Pimelodus pictus

? This is a very common species and there is tons of info on the site (try a forum search).

A 20 gallon is a what's known as a "20 long" right, which is 30"x12"x12" ?

As they are so active, I personally would not keep them in tank with a footprint of less than 48"x15". They are shoaling fish, and I wouldn't keep less than eight together. They will behave more naturally this way.

Hope this helps.

[Anthonyck]

It's the less desirable dimensions, approximately 24 x 16 x 10.

If that is a species that really needs space, then I can scratch it off the list for the moment, and for this tank.

Thanks. My only criteria for this tank is that I want a lot activity, rather than reclusive species. I just refreshed my Flickr account, so I will have to start adding photos.

[Richard B]

How about 8 cory melanistius with a couple of brachyrhamdia imitator?

Although i've kept 3 species of brachyrhamdia i never mixed them with their mimic-ed cory counterparts which would be fascinating - seeing the mimicry & the interaction between the two species

[Anthonyck]

Richard,

If I had the confidence in my local outlets to procure such species, it sounds like a neat idea. I also am kicking around brochis splendens, and saw some nice ones two days ago. I passed, thinking it way too early to try to populate this tank. Turns out it was a sound move (see my other post in Tank Talk).