How Much do Pictus Catfish Cost?

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The cost of the pictus catfish can vary on several factors. If you’re buying online, then you might find different prices. But the cost of an animal’s life is worth much more than money, which means you’ll need to keep a good care of your animal regardless of how much you spent for it.

How much do pictus catfish cost?

Pictus catfish cost between $10 and $15. The prices can vary from seller to seller, but in the vast majority of cases, the prices will be between those two numbers.

In this article, we’ll take a look at everything you need to consider when you’re buying your pictus catfish. From where you should buy it, how you buy it, and how much you should spend on it. We will also take a look at the additional costs that come with pictus catfish ownership.

Should You Buy Pictus Catfish Online?

You’ll meet a lot of people who say that buying pets online is safe. But you should be very wary when you’re buying fish online. It’s a vast world, the Internet, and there’s also a lot of scams online. Now there are several things that come into play when you’re buying online.

The first big problem is the shipment. If you’re buying from overseas, that’s especially difficult. Longer travels can have a severe effect on your fish and might even harm them. In the worst-case scenario, your fish might not make it to your home, even if you’re shipping from a relatively close seller.

Another thing is that you might receive the fish you don’t like, or the fish in a poor condition. That’s a big problem if you’re buying online – you don’t get to see the fish, normally, and you don’t know its health, its current condition, its history, especially if you’re buying from unreliable sources.

Then there’s the problem of safety. You might get scammed if you’re buying online, especially if you’re buying from questionable sources from abroad.

Buying online should only be done if you have no other choice. It’s a fairly comfortable way of buying. But buying pets online is not the best way to buy them; you’re better off by visiting a pet store.

Where to Buy Pictus Catfish?

The best way to buy pictus catfish is from a local store. However, the problem comes when there are no pictus catfish in the store. That’s when you will have to consider your options.

Another good option is to buy from a local breeder, if you know one, of course. You might find some online, but not all of them have an online presence, so you might need to do some digging.

If there is no other choice, you can try buying online, but proceed with caution. There are several risks that comes with buying pets online, and pictus catfish are no different. You can easily get scammed, and you also might find your fish inappropriate or not the way you wanted them.

Things to Consider Before Buying Pictus Catfish

There are several things to keep in mind when you’re buying the pictus catfish.

  • The tank size. This comes with an additional question: how many pictus catfish are you prepared to buy? If you’re buying several catfish, then you might also need a significantly larger tank. On average, you will need about 50 gallons of water for each pictus catfish, and you know that these fish like to be kept in shoals of 5. A 150-gallon tank will support 3-4 pictus catfish, for example, but you can also buy a larger tank. Larger is better than having a tank that’s too small.
  • Schooling Fish. Again, we’ve already mentioned this. But you should know that the catfish like to be kept in shoals of 5 or more. That’s when they’re more comfortable with their surroundings, and when you’ll see the best of them. If they are not kept in groups, they might start to hide around and you’ll have to do everything you can to get more of them together. This also means a larger tank and more maintenance. But it’s the best thing for your catfish, ultimately.
  • Can eat smaller fish. Yes, that can be a problem. The pictus catfish can be predatory towards smaller fish in the tank, such as guppies. That’s definitely something to keep in mind when you’re trying to keep pictus catfish with other fish species in your tank. Some people even use guppies as feeder fish for the catfish, which just goes to say that your pictus catfish will love to eat smaller fish in your tank.
  • Water parameters. You will have to maintain the proper water parameters for your pictus catfish. The temperatures should be between 75 and 81 degrees Fahrenheit (23-27 degrees Celsius), and the acidity should be around neutral levels. There’s also the softness to take care of. The ammonia levels should be minimal and close to zero. You will need to perform regular, weekly maintenance and daily water checks to make sure that the water parameters are ok.
  • Good filtration and water flow. The catfish will require a pretty good filtration. You’ll have to buy a relatively good filter and over filter your tank. And that’s even more important if you intend to keep several catfish in one tank. You won’t go wrong if you buy a powerful filter with a good water flow. That’s because the catfish prefer a relatively strong water flow, which is what they are used to in their natural habitat.

Conclusion

Buying a new pet requires a lot of research and preparation, and it’s no different when it comes to pictus catfish. They will cost you between $10-15 per fish, but the prices can vary depending on the seller. It might be best if you avoid buying them online, and buy from a local pet store or from a local breeder.

Ultimately, it comes down to you keeping a good care of your fish. Keeping regular maintenance checks on your fish is essential, as is making sure the fish have enough space to live in.

Featured Image: WikipediaCC BY-SA 4.0

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Author Image Fabian
I’m Fabian, aquarium fish breeder and founder of this website. I’ve been keeping fish, since I was a kid. On this blog, I share a lot of information about the aquarium hobby and various fish species that I like. Please leave a comment if you have any question.
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