Can Neon Tetra Live With Pictus Catfish?
No, pictus catfishes actively hunt neon tetras at night and will decimate a school even in a 55-gallon tank.
Why
- Pictus catfishes grow to 5 inches and are nocturnal predators that hunt when other fish sleep.
- Neon tetras stay at 1.5 inches and lack any real defense against a quick-moving catfish.
- The temp overlap (75-81F) and pH overlap (6.5-7.0) look fine on paper, but behavior overrides water chemistry.
- Pictus catfishes have wide mouths relative to their body size, built to swallow fish whole.
- Tank size does not solve this problem , a pictus catfish will hunt neons regardless of gallons.
What could go wrong
Tetras disappear one by one over nights or weeks, often before the pictus catfish is identified as the culprit.
If you keep them in separate tanks
Sized for the 55 gallon minimum this pairing needs. Affiliate links — we earn a small commission if you buy through them.
Fluval 307 Performance Canister Filter
Oversized filtration is what lets you stock two species together without water quality crashing. Rated for a tank slightly larger than the 55 gallon minimum.
Eheim Jager 300W Thermostat Heater
Holds a steady temperature inside the 75-81°F window both species need.
API Freshwater Master Test Kit
Keep ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate in check. Two-species tanks have more bioload and less margin for error than single-species setups.
Better pairings to consider
Pictus catfishes do well with larger tetras like black skirts or lemons. Neon tetras do well with corydoras, rasboras, or peaceful community fish that stay in the middle water column.
Related compatibility questions
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