Origin: This Catfish was caught in the northern Amazon Rainforest of South America, and it's is also found in the Orinoco Basin to the northwest of the Amazon Basin.

Maximum Size: This Catfish can grow to be about 5" long, including their tails. Sometimes very old females are longer.

Behaviors: They'll usually move around pretty actively during the day, but some of them seem to hide during the day and become more active at night.

When there is food to be eaten, they become very active looking for it.

They'll also eat very small fish like Neons, Guppies, and other fish small enough fit into their mouths.

They seem to school together when young, then become solitary when older.

Compatibility: Some recommended aquarium mates include any fish that they cannot swallow.

Click here to read more about compatible groups of pet fish.

Temperature: They live well from about 72 to 78 degrees F., but they're probably most comfortable at about 75 degrees F.

Click here to learn about aquarium temperature, aquarium thermometers, and aquarium heaters.

Feeding: Premium Fish Food Flakes when very small then small Premium Pellet Food when larger.

Click here to learn more about and shop online for premium fish foods.

Water Conditions: This Catfish seems to be tolerant of a wide range of water conditions.

Probably a pH of about 6.5 with low hardness is best.

Most water in the US has a higher pH and is harder but seems to be OK for Pictus, and so it's probably best NOT to adjust the pH or the hardness of the water.

Here in our facilities the water is hard and the pH is usually about 7.8. We ship them in this water.

Click here for a lot more information about aquarium water conditions.

Aquarium Size: It is probably best to house these fish in at least a 30-gallon aquarium, when they're less than 3" long, but a bigger aquarium is always better.

Allow at least 5-gallons of water for each Catfish under 3" long.

They'll eat a huge amount of food and grow very fast.

At about 3" they should be moved into at least a 60-gallon aquarium.

Decor: These Catfish do not need gravel, and a layer of gravel more than 1/4" thick will usually fill with bits of uneaten food that will contaminate the water.

Click here for more about aquarium gravel.

Pieces of aquarium-safe driftwood are also nice.

Live Plants: are beautiful and improve the water quality, and these catfish sometimes like to hide among live plants.

Aquarium Filter: Bio-Wheel Filters are highly recommended.

A Penguin 350B Filter in an aquarium with 30-gallons of water is OK to start with a few of these Catfish that are less than 3" long.

At 3" long they should be moved into a 60-gallon aquarium with two Penguin 350B Filters.

Click here to learn more about aquarium filters.

The addition of Lava Rocks will keep nitrates in the ideal range.

Click here to learn more about using Lava Rocks in aquariums.

Life Span: these Catfish can live for several years, probably many years, provided they're fed premium food and kept in a very large aquarium with very fresh water.

Gender: as they mature females presumably become plumper than males.

Breeding: there have been no reports of spawning this catfish in an aquarium.

Popularity: this Catfish is common and very popular.

Names: The scientific name is Pimelodus pictus.

Variations: This Catfish lives across a wide range in South America and the pattern of its markings varies geographically.

In particular the Pictus Catfish in Peru usually have fewer bigger spots than the Pictus in Columbia.

We think the variety of Pictus that we offer is the prettiest variety that we've seen. Highly recommended.

We hope you've enjoyed reading these comments.

DrT - 01/01/2015