tank mates?

chrisinha · Post by **chrisinha** » 23 Dec 2004, 20:16

i was wondering if pictus catfish or white tip shark catfish get along with puffers like the green spotted puffer or the dwarf puffer... anyone knows?

dag · Post by **dag** » 29 Dec 2004, 08:11

Although I do not have puffers or pictus , I do have a white tipped shark . I have talked to people who have puffers and they say that they will kill anything that they can , which explains why the people I know keep nothing with their puffer unless it is a feeder fish . I have watched them feed on feeders and it is pretty amazing , came out of nowhere and chomped down on this feeder (which , by the way , was twice the size of the puffer )and bit it in half in the blink of an eye . Gulped down one half and then the other immediately . They told me that the only problem with it is that the puffer has a voracious appetite and costs a bit to keep in feeders . That was really my only experience with puffers . My shark is about 8 inches now and although I was told that they are placid but will eat "any other fish that they can catch and will fit in their mouth" I havent seen any indication of this behavior yet . He likes to swim up and rub his belly on the other fish and has always done that but that is the extent of his physical contact with his tankmates . He could very easily fit at least 4 of my slow moving fish in his mouth but does not seem inclined towards any mischief in that way . I would be more concerned about the shark coming to harm at the hands(fins) of the puffer , I mean if the puffer was big enough . Stick around , though as I am sure that someone will answer who has more experience with puffers than I .

chrisinha · Post by **chrisinha** » 29 Dec 2004, 08:30

i've decided to keep the puffers by themselves, although some puffers owners say that dwarf puffers can be kept with Otos. I would love to have a white tip shark, but besides needing salt/brackish water, they grow really big, dont they? what would be the minimum size of the tank?

thanks for your reply!

pictus_man_77 · Post by **pictus_man_77** » 29 Dec 2004, 10:49

no no no no no
get pictus

chrisinha · Post by **chrisinha** » 30 Dec 2004, 06:52

lol

ok, ok... i'll think about the pictus then, but what should be the minimum tank size? are they community fish?

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 06 Jan 2005, 13:23

Pictus cats, according to the Cat-eLog, gets to 120mm SL, so about 5", probably more like 6" if you count the tail (Standard Length is from the tip of the "nose" to where the tail starts).

They are quite happy on their own or in a group, again according to the Cat-eLog. See this.

As long as it's tankmates aren't too small (like cardinal tetras), it should be fine in a community tank. Oto's that aren't of the smallest variety should be fine.

I'm thinking of getting some pictuses for my new tank, once it has stabilised itself. (Current occupants are 6 Rosy Barbs in a tank that is just over 100 us gal).

--
Mats

Post by **Marc van Arc** » 06 Jan 2005, 15:33

In my view it should be possible to combine for example Pictus and puffers of the genus Colomesus or even other freshwater puffers(*). If necessary, the cats can outswim the puffers by far, but it's my guess that they won't bother each other. One thing puffers do fancy will be helpful: snails. Try to feed them as many snails as possible and they literally don't care who their tankmates are. Don't add Botia's, for they love snails as well.
(* : i'm not talking about Tetrodon miurus, - mbu and other known agressive species)