Pictus Catfish

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DKlar42

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jul 10, 2017
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So I've had this pictus catfish for quite some time now and this is stressing me out. My pictus will non stop race around the top of the tank all day and all night (except when I feed him) and it's kind of worrying me for some reason. Any ideas of what is causing him to do this? Hes not being picked on (I was told it could be my tiger barbs but I've spent an entire night staying awake to check the tank every so once in a while and the barbs are asleep). I have a PVC pipe in the tank as well but he doesn't seem to want it? Hopefully someone can help to maybe calm him down or know what's going on.

Thanks!
 
Pictus are very active catfish but enjoy the company of others just like ur tiger barbs so getting a few more (assuming tank size can handle it) would be best. 6+ pictus look pretty cool schooling around the bottom.
 
xDestro said:
Pictus are very active catfish but enjoy the company of others just like ur tiger barbs so getting a few more (assuming tank size can handle it) would be best. 6+ pictus look pretty cool schooling around the bottom.
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I have a 75 gal. I'm probably gonna try out one more and see how they do
 
It may be that the water is less than hospitable to the pictus. I know you had said that the water is fine per your prior thread https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/pictus-catfish.689910/#post-7775929

What are your water parameters and by what test kit are they measured? If not ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate, it could be wrong or unstable pH or wrong or unstable hardness. Or swinging temperature.

The fact that he is at the surface, again, may mean inadequate oxygen. Again, you said your aeration is fine. But a picture or a description would help us help you.

Does the fish feed well?

It could still be adjusting too since it appears you've only had it for a week, but overall, this would worry me.
 
thebiggerthebetter said:
It may be that the water is less than hospitable to the pictus. I know you had said that the water is fine per your prior thread https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/pictus-catfish.689910/#post-7775929

What are your water parameters and by what test kit are they measured? If not ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate, it could be wrong or unstable pH or wrong or unstable hardness. Or swinging temperature.

The fact that he is at the surface, again, may mean inadequate oxygen. Again, you said your aeration is fine. But a picture or a description would help us help you.

Does the fish feed well?

It could still be adjusting too since it appears you've only had it for a week, but overall, this would worry me.
Click to expand...

Well, I went with the other guys comment and got another one (I believe its a female. Its skinnier and has really long whiskers) and at first it was fine but whenever the new pictus comes near the other one, it chases the "female". Also, the fish feed really well. Pretty much pigs at this point. Hardness has always been pretty hard but never fluctuates. Temp maayyyy be it but I don't believe it would be because hes been acting this way before I got the temperature down about a degree.
 
Testing your water parameters is always the best way to find out if something is wrong. Do you have an air stone? Or something to disrupt the water surface?
 
If it feeds that well and also chases the new pictus, which is a normal behavior for 2 or even a small group of 3-4, then I'd not worry. I'd reckon it just likes zooming around the tank top more so than at the bottom, which is unusual.

No one recommended getting two pictus but 6+. Still 2 may work out just as well because the tank is big enough so the pictus can get away from each other.
 
Update: Both pictus are doing really well. They are calm in the day and don't race around the tank much anymore. They are back to just swimming on the bottom of the tank and eating well. Thanks for all the help!
 
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