Character of pimelodus pictus

[Line]

Hello all of you

I'm considering to buy this beautiful fellow - actually a nice group of them. But I always had the same concern. Their reputation for beeing hyper active.

Tank should be roomy enough with 230 cm length and a total of 575 litres. Not overstocked. No small fish.

Beyond reading all I could find, I looked at a lot of homevideos of these fish. To see their behavour.
Mostly alone in rather small tanks. Result - nervous, and hyperswimming all the time. Too me this behavour seems to show not very happy fish?
At the other hand - some videos from really really large tanks gave a lot more relaxed impression.

My question is :
will they drive me crazy swimming all the time - or given enough place and companion, they will sometimes be active (perhaps in the evening), by feeding time perhaps extremely active, rest of the time sometimes relaxing doing rather nothing. That would be acceptable to me.

I hope to hear some comments or experiences keeping this fish.
Thx a lot

Best regards
Line

[nvcichlids]

Pictus should be very active during the day? I have never seen mine nor any in friends tanks stay still very long. This is my experience.

[tomr]

in my experience , this is the most active daytime pictus. i have a (4line) pictus that is totally nocturnal.

[Viktor Jarikov]

You have the right tank size. The next best thing is to get a group of at least 5-6 but actually more is even better. The group is a must to alleviate hiding and nervousness.

People usually, if not always, have a problem with the pictus hiding. I think you are the first, I came across, with the kind of an opposite concern. I have had up to 7 pictus in my 120 gal and I have seen big shoals at LFSs for sale, in bare tanks but swimming around gracefully and calmly. What you are asking may be almost a matter of taste. I find their appearance beautiful, far more so in groups, and their behavior cute. To me, if all is right and well, their swimming cannot cause any stress on an observer but quite the opposite.

[Line]

Thx all
How big were / are the tanks? Nice groups or rather small groups?

Hi Viktor

*smile * nice point of view. I get your point.

Can I give som examples?
This video - is this gracefully and normal? Too me this fish is looking for a way out of his prison. Well - he is alone !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvyN2klv8Mg

These ones also seems nervous:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Umyxh6BKKEg

Here is a big shoal at some lfs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IX8q-3cNK_o
Normal behavior of a group? Or are they stressed? I would be stressed!

This one is feeding time - thats the reason?.. but to me this way of behaving is more natural.. swimming around ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ejry6zU2aGU

This one - this is beautiful. That's what you mean? (I only looked at the beginning) here I could relaxe. Very beautiful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5mQXAxCUNQ

These one are very calm. Relaxed. I think.. ? I would say - it is a very beautiful tank,not?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHekN8GuDkU

...

you see, I want happy fish - and a fish swimming nervously at the glass 24 hours a day, I would feel sad for them. Perhaps I dont focus right on the above videos? I look forward to hear your comments

Best regards
Line

[Viktor Jarikov]

Perfect illustration. Thanks, Line. Yes, overall, pictus is a nervous fish exhibiting jagged, quick movements often. In that way, it resembles a pangasius, except IDS don't hide. Such are many young smallish pims, e.g., blochii, tetramerus, ornatus, etc. Usually, the bigger fish are less skittish and far more confident and a calmer swimmer.

I agree with your assessments. The first 3 vids show nervous fish... whether they are adjusting, harassed, etc. I don't know. The first one is alone, so that fact (alone ) explains its wild swimming.

Feeding (#4) seemed natural - that's what mine did when food hits the water/bottom. It can be frenzy-like and that's normal, I'd think.

I think you and I are on the same page taste-wise: we agree when we see graceful, calm behavior, as in the last two vids. Still, there are only 2 pictus in the second to the last vid and the pecking order behavior can be evident there - one is dominant, calmer, the other is more skittish. Sex plays a role too, I am sure.

So the answer to your question remains the same, I think: when all is well and right, pictus should not stress the observer at all. It can be done, as you found out/saw for yourself.

[Line]

Hi Viktor

Thanks a lot.
There is then hope and light for the project

I was wondering.. most vids are showing rather non-current tanks. I had expected more current would be right for pictus.
Also I would give more warm temperature (http://www.weather-and-climate.com/aver ... ,Venezuela)
Nice warm whirlpools as for plecos.

Best regards
Line

[Viktor Jarikov]

As you probably know, pictus come in two varieties: Peruvian (grows a bit smaller, better defined spotting) and Colombian. The water temp difference can be big between the countries. I think pictus are quite unfussy as long as the temp is within the norm for a tropical tank. As for the water movement, I can't be sure. My impressions of a naivete is that they don't care/don't care much.

Watching all those vids made me really miss mine. Oh well, may be some day.

[Line]

Hi Viktor

Yes - you're right there. Do you know the exactly Spot where they are collected in Peru?

Well, you probably have to get them again They are such nice fish, I think. But probably often "misunderstood"...

Best regards
Line

[Viktor Jarikov]

No. I always envy the experts that know and conduct discussions about what was collected where and what bearing it has in the ID, behavior, etc. I am very far from that level of competence.

[Line]

Oh, thats okay - you helped me a lot allready I thank you a lot.
Perhaps somebody else will know.

Best regards
Line