Pictus Catfish

[lovemybarbs]

My pictus must feed all night off the bottom, because he never comes out when I feed my fish.

The only thing he will eat if I drop down by where he sits are the frog bites I have left over from my ADF.

I'm bummed. When I first got him he went to the top and loved anything I threw in there. Is it because he is over three years old?

 

[Hara]

typically, pictus cats are bottom fish. It would be rare to see them at the top unless they were exceptionally hungry.

 

[Zagz]

Is he the only one in your tank? I believe they will be more social the more they have friends. I believe that they should be kept in groups of at least 3.

I'm sure age plays a factor too, how big is he? They are nocturnal creatures so you won't see them as much as some other types of fish.

 

[zenkatydid]

As far as I understand, young pictuses like the company but as they get older, they get territorial and would prefer to live alone. I would not try to introduce a new one to the tank now.

 

[lovemybarbs]

She's about five inches long. She has her favorite spot. For their evening feedings I usually turn the light off right after I put the food in.

 

[Zagz]

I have also heard that at that age and size they become territorial. She's probably too set in her ways to accept newcomers. It sounds to me like age is a definate factor for her acting more nocturnal. I have a couple of nocturnal fish I have to sit in the dark with a flashlight not aimed directly at the tank to watch them.

 

[lovemybarbs]

She flies from one side of the tank to the other when the light is out, but I never see her eat.

 

[Zagz]

Sounds like my gold nugget pleco. I've caught him when I sneak up on the dark tank eating but never see him eat in the daytime. Brats LOL.

 

[lovemybarbs]

Oh, I did buy some small zebra danios about a month ago. I know she ate them. Next time I won't buy cheap. I really didn't think she would go after them.