Pictus Catfish Pimelodus Pictus 8cm
Image for illustration purposes only. Exact colours, patterns, and size may vary between individuals.
Delivered alive, guaranteed
Live fish delivery is £20 per order, delivered Thursday, Friday or Saturday, arriving before 1:00pm on the day you choose at checkout. Packed by aquatic specialists and shipped overnight with a dedicated livestock courier, every fish is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee with automatic refunds. See How Live Fish Delivery Works for full details.
When will my fish arrive?
| Order placed | Delivery day |
|---|---|
| Up to Monday 11:00am | Thursday (that week) |
| Monday after 11:00am – Tuesday 11:00am | Friday (that week) |
| Tuesday after 11:00am – Wednesday 11:00am | Saturday (that week) |
| Wednesday after 11:00am – Sunday (any time) | Thursday (following week) |
Overview
The Pictus Catfish is a slender, silver catfish scattered with bold black spots, carrying exceptionally long white barbels and a forked tail. It comes from the Orinoco and Amazon basins, where it patrols shallow flowing water over sand. Constantly on the move, it suits larger community tanks with medium-sized, robust fish.
- Adult Size: Around 11–12 cm (4.5 in)
- Lifespan: 8–10 years
Origin
- Native to: Orinoco and Amazon basins, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Brazil
- Habitat: Shallow flowing rivers over sand or mud
Feeding
- Diet: Omnivorous, mainly meaty foods
- Preferred Foods: Sinking pellets, bloodworm, earthworms, brine shrimp, daphnia, flake
- Feeding Habits: Feed once or twice daily; most active after dark
Tank Mates
- Best with: Larger tetras, rainbowfish, gouramis, peaceful medium cichlids
- Avoid: Guppies, neons, fry, shrimp and anything mouth-sized
Aggression & Behaviour
- Temperament: Peaceful with its own kind and similar-sized fish
- Territoriality: None; a shoaling, open-water catfish
Experience Level
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Challenges: Sensitive to poor water; venomous spines; eats small fish
Water Parameters
- Water Type: Freshwater, soft to moderately hard
- Temperature: 23–27°C (73–81°F)
- pH: 6.5–7.5
- Hardness: 4–18 dGH
- Flow: Moderate to strong
- Tank Size: Minimum 200 litres for a small group; a long tank is best
Final Notes
Keep it in a group of three or more in a long tank with open swimming lanes and a sand bed to protect the barbels, which erode in poor water but regrow. The dorsal and pectoral spines carry a mild venom and tangle in nets, so move the fish in a container. A greedy night hunter, it will swallow any fish that fits. Females grow larger and rounder. A lively, elegant catfish once settled.
Please Note
The livestock that is sold on our online site is not held in store at our Birchwood Aquatic Centre shop. Species sold at the Birchwood Aquatic Centre physical store may differ from ones available to order to your door.
Frequently Asked Questions
In insulated boxes designed for live transport, packed by aquatic specialists,
overnight with a licensed live-animal courier, arriving before 1pm.
It is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee.
Photograph it within 4 hours of delivery, email info@birchwoodaquaticcentre.co.uk with your order number, and the refund is processed automatically. The cover continues for 7 days after arrival.
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. You pick your day at checkout; please choose a day someone is home.
Yes. One basket, one checkout; the fish arrive with the specialist courier and the rest of your order ships as normal.
We can deliver to UK mainland only for live fish.
Follow the five-minute acclimatisation steps in our When Your Fish Arrive guide: float the bags, add tank water gradually, net the fish in, lights low, feed tomorrow.