pimelodus pictus with stingrays
- Thread starter Plant300
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With an average size of 6" there is a distinct possibility Pimelodus pictus would be over powered and swallowed whole by any ray species over 8" (20cm) disc. This species not only have very sharp reversed barbed pectoral and dorsal spines they also have a toxic venom on these also. If anyone has felt the pain from one when trying to release it from a tangled net they will know exactly where I'm coming from. This is not a strong enough toxin to kill a ray it would just cause discomfort, its the fact it could easily choke due to locking the fins in a outward position thus becoming lodged in the throat cavity.
I much safer choice would be its larger cousin Pimelodus blochii. This Catfish is very variable regarding pattern, some are stunning! what they all have however is a distinctive spot beneath the first ray of the dorsal fin(hard ray)...check them out, these generally grow to 10" in captivity, its possible for them to get a little larger but if I said 12" I think that would be a little ambitious.
Lovely Cats and relatively cheap to buy, look great in a group, go into a feeding frenzy just like pictus when they detect food, very excitable characters.
I much safer choice would be its larger cousin Pimelodus blochii. This Catfish is very variable regarding pattern, some are stunning! what they all have however is a distinctive spot beneath the first ray of the dorsal fin(hard ray)...check them out, these generally grow to 10" in captivity, its possible for them to get a little larger but if I said 12" I think that would be a little ambitious.
Lovely Cats and relatively cheap to buy, look great in a group, go into a feeding frenzy just like pictus when they detect food, very excitable characters.
i successfully kept pictus before on my tank. they are fast swimmers and my rays seems to can't catch them. I since moved them on and replaced them with Synodontis species. Had 3x Syno ornatippinis, 4x Syno angelicus before and currently swimming on the tank are 3x Syno Decorus. They are a bit shy and just hide on my driftwood. Another catfish I added were 3 black asian upside down catfish - they are more outgoing than the decorus and i can see them roaming the tank most of the time.
All the above catfish seems to have worked well with my rays.
All the above catfish seems to have worked well with my rays.
I keep 4 pictus cats with my rays. The cats are all +/- 4" and the rays (Wallaceii) are 12", 8", and 6". Haven't been any issues between the rays and catfish. However, my rays are a smaller species. Motoros and orbs may cause issues as they get big.
I did keep a blochii cat for awhile, with 2 pictus and the 3 rays. The blochii hung out under the driftwood piece in my tank, often resting directly on top a ray if there was one under the wood piece as well. This catfish was much less active, but ate way more than the pictus. I rehomed the blochii when it was around 8" as it was out-competing the pictus for food and stealing food from the rays.
I did keep a blochii cat for awhile, with 2 pictus and the 3 rays. The blochii hung out under the driftwood piece in my tank, often resting directly on top a ray if there was one under the wood piece as well. This catfish was much less active, but ate way more than the pictus. I rehomed the blochii when it was around 8" as it was out-competing the pictus for food and stealing food from the rays.