Pictus Catfish

1 Pictus Catfish Introduction

The Pictus Catfish, also known as the Pearl High-Fin Catfish, is native to Colombia. It prefers soft acidic water and is active at night; in the aquarium it is often seen hiding in rock crevices during the day. Its body is silvery white with a slight yellow tint, densely covered with fine black speckles, which gives the species its name.

Chinese name: Pictus Catfish

Binomial: Pimelodus pictus

Kingdom: Animalia

Family: Siluridae (catfish)

2 Physical Characteristics

The Pictus Catfish typically reaches 8-10 cm in length. Also called the Pearl High-Fin Catfish, it gets its name from the dense black speckles covering its body. It is nocturnal and, in captivity, is often found hiding in rock crevices during the day.

Its head is triangular with two pairs of barbels, a tall erect dorsal fin, and rigid spines on the pectoral fins. The body is silvery white with a slight yellow tint, densely covered with fine black spots that also appear on the dorsal and caudal fins. Its breeding method is currently unknown.

3 Aquarium Conditions

As a member of the catfish family, the Pictus Catfish requires suitable water conditions. Because its breeding method is unknown, it is not yet widely kept by hobbyists. So what should be considered regarding its keeping environment?

Keep the Pictus Catfish at a water temperature of 22-28°C in soft, slightly acidic water. Because it is active at night and hides in rock crevices during the day, provide aquascaping with hiding places where it can rest.

4 Feeding Guidelines

The Pictus Catfish accepts foods such as daphnia and tubifex worms. However, most hobbyists keep a catfish in the tank mainly to graze on algae and help maintain water cleanliness, so they generally do not feed it large amounts.

Because it eats a lot and also produces a lot of waste, control the amount fed so it does not steal food from other tankmates and to prevent water fouling from overfeeding.