Fishy needs somewhere to hide

[dexykins]

I'm new here, and I joined up because this seems like a good place to ask about how to take care of my pictus. In a week or so, I'll be getting a new 20 gallon tank, because my two big fish (pictus and an algae-eater) are really getting too big. The problem is that the decorative cave I have for my pictus, Alphonse, is too small for him. I didn't really know he'd get so big when I first got him. Can anyone here reccommend where I can find catfish-friendly caves or hiding places?

[Richard B]

The pictus isn't really a "hider" - it's an open water swimmer, but it is also a shoaling species & ideally should be kept in groups of 6 or so & as a lone individual (particularly in the presence of a big algae eater - is it a sucking loach or pleco?) it probably feels lonely & intimidated - what you can do about it in that size tank is limited

[dexykins]

Really? I had no idea pictus were sociable. He's been hiding in the cave since I got him, but he does come out sometimes, more frequently in the last few months. The algae eater's a pleco, a huge one at that. Should I maybe get another big fish for Alphonse to be buddies with? Most of my others are less than two inches.

[Richard B]

Exactly how big is the pleco & how big is alphonse?

[MatsP]

Whilst it's common to see P. pictus out in the open, in my experience they actually quite like a good hidey-hole - I used to have six of them, and they all had their own little cave that they would like to hide in (and fight over). Possibly because I have a big tank with lots of hidey-places.

In my tank, I've got plenty of broken and upside down terracotta pots (the shallow/wide flat ones work well), as well as several piece of wood. All seem to be appreciated by P. pictus when they feel like hiding.

A 20g is probably not quite big enough for a group of P. pictus - I'd got for 55g if you can fit it in.

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Mats

[Richard B]

I agree Mats that they do apreciate an area of concealment, but was trying to say (probably badly) that they aren't by nature "hiders" like for example humbug cats (platydoras). When i kept them many years ago, their area of concealment was actually a small piece of open water between two thick planted areas which was at 45' angle to the front glass of a 36x12x24. Being between the plants & not obvious to whatever lurked outside the front glass made them feel more secure. The feeling of security is heightened by being in a group, safety in numbers etc

I don't think adding another big fish to buddy up is an answer as these fish don't really do that & another sinle pictus is a bad idea as one always bullies the other - these fish need the group approach to feel comfortable but not in a 20g - 55g is a good size for this active species

[MatsP]

I agree - one more is a bad idea - having 5-10 is a much better idea.

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Mats