Can a pictus cat's venom kill other fish?

FluffySackson · Sep 19, 2014

Hello! I introduced a 3 inch pictus cat into my 65 gallon, the home of my Chocolate cichlid (He'll go in a 200 when I get the tank in December or January) along with a handful of baby cichlids (2-4") But my chocolate LOVES to eat, he tried to eat my pictus (and failed) but the pictus' dorsal fin was nipped. I'm worried that the pictus' venom could kill my chocolate. Is this possible? The chocolate cichlid is an 8 inch male, if you want to know.

Crazy mike · Sep 19, 2014

FluffySackson said:
Hello! I introduced a 3 inch pictus cat into my 65 gallon, the home of my Chocolate cichlid (He'll go in a 200 when I get the tank in December or January) along with a handful of baby cichlids (2-4") But my chocolate LOVES to eat, he tried to eat my pictus (and failed) but the pictus' dorsal fin was nipped. I'm worried that the pictus' venom could kill my chocolate. Is this possible? The chocolate cichlid is an 8 inch male, if you want to know.

It shouldn't I've had cichlids eat pictus without any issues other than almost choking on them.

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stiker · Sep 20, 2014

It shouldn't kill them. I hope you have your Pictus in with other Pictus cats though. They are a schooling catfish

divemaster99 · Sep 20, 2014

Should be fine, I'd be more worried about how much damage the pictus took and as stated above they should be kept in schools.

FluffySackson · Sep 20, 2014

I don't have any other pictus yet. My LFS had 2, but one got stuck in the net, so I didn't take him. I used a dixie cup to net out my pictus, going to get a couple more when one of my LFS gets a batch. The pictus is doing well, the chocolate doesn't bug him and even my Vieja Breidohri doesn't try to eat his eyes (That happened to some of my corys, so I sold them or moved them to a 15 where they'll stay until my 30 gallon is done cycling)

thebiggerthebetter · Sep 22, 2014

It won't kill. It is not a venom but a substance in the slime that irritates victim's nerve ending, resulting in more pain than from just a puncture alone.