pictus

[fish_illiterate]

i have a 10 gallon tank and wanted to add a pictus (approx 2 inch long right now) and 3 or so tiger barbs is a 10 gallon big enough, how long with the pictus be able to remain in it if so?

 

[twoluvcats]

i wouldn't even consider it...i had one in a 29g and she did not do well...small spaces really stress them out.

 

[fish_illiterate]

hmm

thanks atleast now i know that, at the pet shops that i had gone to they told me that i need 1 gallon per inch of fish and that a 10 gallon would be fine for the pictus and the barbs, and that if the pictus grew too large that it would need to be sold or transferred...i am on a limited amount of space and for now the 10 gallon is all that fits untill i move, i like the fish that swim like sharks in a sense and is why i wanted to go with the pictus, any ideas of a similar fish that goes fine in a 10 gallon?

 

[f8fan]

dude I wouldnt get a pictus in a ten gallon but that's just my opinion. I had a couple in a 25 gallon (they died of a parasite problem I had ) but they do get large and they are also always on the move! I would think they would scare/stress out other fish in a smaller tank like a 10 gallon.

 

[fish_illiterate]

i thought they only got to about 6-7 inchs...is it true that you need 1 gallon per inch of fish? or is that case different for the pictus? what if he was alone in a 10 gallon?

 

[fishbrain]

The inch of fish per gallon rules has many many exceptions; too many to make it a "rule". A simplist guidline at best.

Pictus are very active & need a lot of space. I don't know for sure but can't they get 6" or so & feel more comfortable in at least a small group (3-4)? I had an early failure with a couple & then I desided I wouldn't get anymore (eventhough they are awesome looking!). I believe they are fairly sensitive to water conditions also. Tankmates for them are a bit tricky too; I've read that they'll eat anything that'll fit into their mouth. Although I'd guess a full-grown tiger barb would be safe.
(More input needed)

I'd skip these for now; wait until you have more space (home & tank). JMHO

 

[f8fan]

like fishbrain said, they need a lot of room to move and they are ALWAYS moving! They zip and zing around the tank and never really settle down. They freaked out my angelfish and my red tailed shark back when they were in the 25 gallon. I made the mistake of feeding them some fresh raw calamari tho and they got a bacterial disease and both died