ideal tank mates for pictus catfish?

[K R Brown]

got two pictus in an 250L tank looking for something cost efficient and colorful any ideas or recommendations

[Caryl]

As another bottom dweller? Is there just the 2 pictus so far or do you have other middle and top swimmers?

[K R Brown]

just the 2 catfish at this point something mid would be the go

[Caryl]

Do you like the look of a shoal of smaller fish or one or two large ones?

[firenzenz]

Don't go too small.

They are nocturnal feeders and will take small tetras.

If you have nothing in there already, then the world is your oyster.

They are a boisterous fish though so not good with nervy or quite fish like discus.

With only two they can be nervy and hidey.

How about bigger tetras, or a selection of Rainbows would look cool with all their colour options that you could add too over time and one bigger SA cichlid that isn't too aggressive, like Chocolate or Severum.

[David R]

If you want to keep it south american you could go for severums, angels, geophagus etc.

[K R Brown]

would a group of 30 or so tiger barbs be ok with 2 pictus plan get another pictus in future to

[firenzenz]

if you were to get get another 2-3 pictus then they would pretty much ignore any other fish in the tank.

I;'d say 30 tiger barbs would be fine-cool in fact-have heard of barbs used for bringing out shy loaches so could see that working for pictus.

12 tigers

12 green tigers

12 cherry

Fits into the colour you are looking for.

If you like barbs then have a look at columbian tetras. 30 of them would be awesome too.

And they live forever.

They are my dither in a 4 ft plec tank

[dyinggoldfish]

yeah barbs are good. However they can be quite nippy to each other and other fish. And they love to rip plants