Pictus, spotted: Single? Pair? School?

[Andyroo]

Q: How many to be happy, happiest'ist?
There seems some discrepancy in the lit: Planet Catfish suggests at least a couple & this forum seems to say one lest they scrap.

If trigger-pulled, to go into higher-flow 6' 100gal. with bamboo, root-wood and (eventually) plants.
Current tank-mades incl. clownloache(5) & zamora(5), RTS, common pleco & ABK. All but pleco & knife are a little timid so I've an eye out for dither - likely to be river mullet (Agonostomus monticola) for now as not much in the shop, but they're a little... manic. A high-activity cute little cat(s) might help to check this box without nixing plants, unlike the SD's that are also on the options list.

 

[necrocanis]

I've only kept a couple of them and always solo and they did fine. Thrived even I'd say. Be interesting to see others experiences though. I can't comment on keeping them in pairs or schools.

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

IME, mostly it is a bunch (a dozen?) or one that is the most safe. Two is generally a bad number with assertive, hierarchical, or aggressive fish such as the pictus, unless the tank is large and heavily scaped like yours.

My thread with much info from peers too: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/posts/7627500

 

[Fishman Dave]

I started with five in a 390 litre corner tank. They did ok when younger and squabble quite a bit as they age. Now three remain at around 5-6” at maybe 6-8 yrs old in a 450 litre with plenty of flow. They dont really fall out much but there is plenty of space for them. In my opinion they are like a number of pim species an active schooling fish when young but may be found to go their own way and become more solitary as they grow older. They also appear to tolerate each other being in fairly close proximity if the tank is large enough and they have grown up together. For anything around 450 litres I would recommend a group of five youngsters.
a good cat to mix with filament barbs as well as the mix you already have.
mine are with plecs, botia, Hoplos, lancers, Lima shovelnose and all great together.