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No federal permit to keepPictus cat
Pimelodus pictus
Fishes › Catfish (Siluriformes) › Pimelodidae (Long-whiskered catfish)
Pimelodus pictus, also known as the pictus cat or pictus catfish, is a small (11.0 centimetres (4.3 in) TL) member of the catfish family Pimelodidae, native to the Amazon and Orinoco river basins and commonly kept as a pet in freshwater aquariums.
Care at a glance
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 24 in long and 12 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 4.3 in / 11 cm).
- Water: Freshwater.
- Temperature: 72–77°F (range recorded for this species).
- pH: 6–8.
- Hardness: 5–19 dGH.
- Layout: Uses both the bottom and open water: give open swimming space plus cover near the substrate.
Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.
Care guide
Species care notes
- Tank: a base of at least 47 × 18 in (roughly 64 US gallons); space needed is rated “large tank”.
- Water: a fairly wide range, from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, 72–77 °F, pH 5.8–6.8, 1–15 dGH.
- Behaviour: temperament predatory; a shoaling fish best kept in a group of six or more.
- Difficulty: Moderate (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “Does best in a dimly lit environment with plenty of swimming space, and a few hiding places to provide security.”
- Tankmates: “Peaceful enough but bear in mind this is a predatory species.”
- Breeding: “Not thought to have been achieved in the hobby.”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
Long-whiskered catfish
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: South American pimelodids occupy river channels and tributaries, with redtails and shovelnoses also using flooded forests. [fg178-pictus, fg178-redtail, fg178-sorubim]. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- For P. pictus, use at least 120 × 45 × 45 cm (about 243 L), with open swimming space.
- Adult redtails and P. fasciatum require facility-scale housing: approximately 360 × 240 × 120 cm (10,368 L) is explicitly only a minimum in the reference.
- Provide dim lighting and appropriately sized shelters; use fine sand for pictus.
- For giant species, secure heavy furnishings and avoid swallowable gravel; bare bottoms or large smooth pebbles are alternatives.
- Use efficient biological filtration, regular partial water changes and, for giants, equipment protected in an external sump.
Climate & lighting
| Water | 71.6–77°F |
Diet
- Pictus: sinking prepared foods and frozen bloodworms.
- Earthworms, sized for the fish.
- Giant predators: prawns and mussels.
- Giant predators: white-fish portions; vary foods and reduce feeding frequency as adults mature.
Social life
- Pictus are shoaling fish, preferably six or more in adequate space; adult redtails and shovelnoses can be territorial towards other large pimelodids. Companions must be too large to swallow.
Health watch
- Barbel erosion with deteriorating water quality.
- White spot and poor condition in newly imported pictus.
- Obesity and fatty organ damage from overfeeding or inappropriate mammal meat.
Understanding the animal
About this animal
About this animal
Pictus catfish are sometimes mislabeled as Angelicus cats in the aquarium trade, but the latter name actually refers to an unrelated African catfish, the mochokid Synodontis angelica. Pimelodus pictus should not be confused with Leiarius pictus, a much larger (60 cm (24 in)) pimelodid.
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Pimelodus pictus” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174
In the wild
In the wild
From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1
| Where it lives | Lives in freshwater. Uses both the bottom and open water. Aquarium keeping: not recommended for home aquariums; minimum aquarium size 120 cm. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater, 72–77 °F (22–25 °C), pH 6–8, hardness 5–19 dH. |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
What this means for care
- Keep water within its wild range, 72–77 °F.
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 90°F (up to 95°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 69°F (down to 65°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 77–81°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 76–84% on average (driest month about 75%) |
| Rainfall | about 2559 mm a year, spread fairly evenly |
Measured at 78 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.
From the sources
From the sources
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Overview | Pimelodus pictus, also known as the pictus cat or pictus catfish, is a small (11.0 cm TL) member of the catfish family Pimelodidae, native to the Amazon and Orinoco river basins and commonly kept as a pet in freshwater aquariums. Pictus catfish are sometimes mislabeled as Angelicus cats in the aquarium trade, but the latter name actually refers to an unrelated African catfish, the mochokid Synodontis angelica. Pimelodus pictus should not be confused with Leiarius pictus, a much larger (60 cm) pimelodid. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Where it lives | Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase |
| Biology | Aquarium keeping: not recommended for home aquariums; minimum aquarium size 120 cm. Average life span in captivity is said to be 4-8 yrs (https://aquaticmag.com/freshwater/fish/pictus-catfish-information/). In one case, this catfish lasted 18 yrs (1999-2017) in an aquarium (Roel Hurkens, Pers. — FishBase |
Data and studies
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Adult length
Maximum recorded length. Measured as total length. Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.
Water temperature
Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.
Minimum tank footprint
Seriously Fish recommends a tank base of at least 47 × 18 in (about 64 US gallons).
Sources for this sheet
- FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
- Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
- Seriously Fish: Pimelodus pictus Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Seriously Fish: Phractocephalus hemioliopterus Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Seriously Fish: Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- iNaturalist (captive observations) Community referenceCommunity observation platform run by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic; observations marked captive show animals living in homes, zoos and aquariums.
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