In my tank i have 2 balas a pictus catfish and a rainbow shark. My rainbow shark is a bully and tries to attack the other fish. My pictus always hides in one spot now and he used to always be out swimming around and the rainbow shark kept chasing him and now he just hides all the time. He swims out every now and then to get food but he comes out and goes back in so fast. My balas get scared and swim away when he comes near them cuz he chases them. I was just wondering if there was anything to do or if it was just a bad idea to get him?
bully rainbow shark
- Thread starter lbj23
- Start date
lbj23;2838323; said:
Balas do Best in groups. Think of them as a giant schooling tetra.
Pictus Cats do best in groups as well. Despite being a hardy cat, they can be bullied. You would be better off with a few or more.
Rainbow Sharks are a fish that will stake clam on some object in the tank. A peice of wood, a skull, a cave, an ornament it can enter or get beneath. It will spend all it's time protecting that and making sure that no fish come near it or enter it's cave. Generally they return to the cave after chasing away, and most fish learn where they don't belong.
However Pictus cats too are low level bottom roaming fish and like to hang out beneath objects. This is conflicting, especially if your tank contains few areas to offer this.
Also, do NOT add a RedTail shark, as they are very similar to the rainbows. I can see where this tank is going. Blacksharks need to be avoided too, as they are monsters.
i was going to get a pictus the other day but when i went they just ran out of them so i have to wait till they get more or try a different pet store. the rainbow was put in a couple weeks after the pictus and the rainbow took its spot and i think that there are many places for them.
my brother brought home a bala and a rainbow shark lol the pet shop lady told him theyd be fine together in a 20cmx30cmx25cm tank! ...... same problem...... been about a yr now tho .... we moved them to a 30g tank cause they were small still but the rainbow shark terrorised the bala shark and it ended up dying 
then started on the other fish.. we ended up puting the rainbow shark out in our 55g outside with some native fish lol..... for 3 months... when we brought him back inside he wasnt chasing anymore and just stayed in his house .. now all the other fish tease him by swimming right near the entrance till he comes out...
then started on the other fish.. we ended up puting the rainbow shark out in our 55g outside with some native fish lol..... for 3 months... when we brought him back inside he wasnt chasing anymore and just stayed in his house .. now all the other fish tease him by swimming right near the entrance till he comes out...i know the fish i have are to big for my tank i am trying to get a bigger tank but this is all i have for now. i ended up bringing him back to the pet store and i got another pictus