Pictus Catfish

[polgara]

Does anyone know if its possible to breed these in aquariums and if so maybe some helpful tips?

[CatBrat]

As far as I know there have been no reported spawns in of the Pictus Cats in any aquarium. I'm pretty sure that these are a migratory fish (they spend there whole life cyle migrating through the rivers), but don't quote me on this.

I remember reading some where that you could set up a dough-nut shaped tank with a constant current flowwing around you could copy the conditions that they have in a river, and therefore have a greater chance of spawning them. But that seems like a lot of work for only a small chance of a result (compeard to that of spawning such things as some types of fancy pleco's, which you would have a better chance of spawning).

Cheers, CatBrat.

[Aquatopia]

Having said all that - what a beautiful fish to succeed at breeding. I quite like the idea of setting up a "migratory tank", though i would have to be more inventive and make it less boring than a simple circle. I think it would do well to have "baffles" in some places (just simply a piece of glass coming out from the wall) to create a resting place for the fish too or when they want to sleep they would be washed round and round like being in a washing tub !! Lol.

[CatBrat]

Yea the "baffles" would ba a good idea, but even using somethinkg more natrual like rocks or driftwood would work, and look much more naturl too.

Cheers, CatBrat.

[Aquatopia]

I like the idea of a figure 8 that doesnt meet in the middle. Cutting or grinding the glass to the right angle for the joints would be a b***** though. Would powerheads be enough to get the water flowing?

On a complete tangent, i heard that if you do your stimulant water change at the same time it is raining outside for corys, then they are more likely to spawn as they can detect the atmospheric pressure. Or is this why people dont fill the tank back up to the same level as before, as the water pressure difference of being at a different height has the same effect as the change in atmospheric pressure?

I wanna breed little baby corys.

[CatBrat]

Yes I have read the same thing about adding the cool water at the same time as a low pressure system is over the country. I don't think that the fish would even notice the diffrence in the depth of just a few cm.

To get them to spawn try seperating your males and females (if you can) and conditioning them seperatly on high quality foods. Then once the females look gravid place the males and females back in the same tank and perform a 20% water change with cold water to drop the temp, and then let it raise back up slowly. It should work.

BTW, what cory species are u trying to breed?

Cheers, CatBrat.

[Aquatopia]

CatBrat - Well my favourite corys are adolfoi, panda, sterbai. But to be honest its my first go, so would consider being advised otherwise.

How do you tell male from female? How old should they be? What is considered good quality food? Can you get live food here? And what would you feed the babies on?

cheers