Why Is My Pictus Catfish Swimming At The Top of the Tank? Is Glass Surfing Normal?

Author: Hasty Fish

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If you’re a fish owner, you’ve likely witnessed your fish swimming up to the surface of the water or “glass surfing” at some point.

This behavior can be concerning for pet owners, as it may indicate an underlying issue with your fish’s health.

However, it’s essential to understand that this behavior is not uncommon among Pictus catfish and may not always be a cause for alarm.

This blog post will explore why your Pictus catfish might exhibit this behavior.

So if you’re curious about your fish’s behavior or simply want to learn more about caring for Pictus catfish, read on!

Reason #1: They Are Simply Having Fun

While glass surfing can be a cause for concern, there is a benign reason why Pictus catfish engage in this activity – they simply do it for fun!

Pictus catfish are active swimmers who love to explore their environment. Glass surfing is just one way to satisfy their curiosity and have fun. It’s especially common when they are happy and feeling safe in their tank environment or when you have a bubble wall in their tank that they can play in.

You’ll also see this behavior more often in young fish. It’s likely just a way for them to explore their new home and get comfortable before settling down.

Reason #2: Your Pictus Catfish Is Lacking Sufficient Oxygen

Unfortunately, glass surfing can also indicate that your Pictus catfish is not getting enough oxygen in the tank and is having difficulty breathing.

When there isn’t enough oxygen in the water, Pictus Catfish will try to find ways to get more air. Glass surfing is one way that they can try to increase their oxygen intake as the oxygen levels near the surface of the tank tends to be higher than in the lower depths.

One way to tell if there is an oxygen deficiency is if you can see your fish gulping for air at the surface. You may also notice that they become lethargic.

Solution: If you suspect this is the reason behind your Pictus Catfish’s behavior, you should increase oxygen levels in the tank. This includes lowering stocking levels and installing a HOB filter, spray bar, or air pump. Some short-term solutions include pouring water from a height, stirring the water, adding ice cubes, or placing a fan near the tank.

Reason #3: Unsuitable Tank Size

It’s also possible that glass surfing is a sign of unsuitable tank size.

Pictus catfish require plenty of space to swim and play. If your tank is too small for the number of Pictus catfish in it, they may become stressed out as they are being confined in a limited space and, as a result, swim up and down the glass walls.

Some Pictus Catfish may even become aggressive towards each other and other species if they don’t have enough room.

Solution: If this is the case, consider rehoming or upgrading your tank to a larger size. A 50-gallon tank is a minimum size for one Pictus catfish, and a larger tank is recommended if keeping more than one. This gives them enough space to explore, swim, and hide without feeling cramped.

Reason #4: Your Pictus Catfish Aren’t Kept In A Large Enough Group

Another reason your Pictus catfish might be pacing the glass walls is that they are not kept in large enough groups.

Pictus catfish are social creatures and shoaling species, meaning they prefer to live in groups of their own kind.

Keeping them alone or in an extremely low number in the tank can cause them to become stressed and anxious and exhibit abnormal behaviors, including glass surfing.

At least 5 should be kept together, and more is even better. This will give your Pictus Catfish the social interaction they need to thrive and help them feel safe and secure.

Solution: The best solution to this problem is, of course, to add more of the same species to your tank, preferably a group of 5 or more.

Reason #5: The Current Water Conditions Are Unsuitable For Your Pictus Catfish

Poor water conditions can also result in your Pictus catfish swimming to the water’s surface. This behavior is often an attempt to escape the low-quality water in their environment, but unfortunately, they have nowhere else to go but the top.

So, monitoring the following factors closely is crucial to ensure that your Pictus catfish remain healthy and happy in their aquarium home.

1. Water Parameters

Some water parameters you should ensure are in the optimal range include pH, temperature, nitrite and nitrate, and ammonia levels.

Each fish species has a specific pH range, temperature, and water hardness in which they thrive. Inaccurate temperature can lead to stress and disease, just like a fluctuating pH level can cause harm.

The ideal water parameters for Pictus catfish is a:

  • pH of 7.0-8.0
  • Water temperature between 75-81°F (23-27 °C)
  • Water hardness between 5-15 dH
  • Nitrite and nitrate levels below 2 ppm

2. Ammonia Level

Every aquarium environment has some degree of ammonia. You simply can’t avoid it, as it is produced by the breakdown of organic matter and fish waste in the tank.

However, having too much ammonia in your tank is a sure way to kill your fish. High concentrations of ammonia can cause stress and damage your fish’s gills and internal organs, leaving them unable to breathe properly and eventually leading to death.

So, keeping ammonia at 0 ppm is the goal.

However, since it’s naturally produced in your aquarium, it’s not the easiest unless you have a heavily planted tank and invest in an efficient filtration system and add a filter media. So the best thing you can do is to keep it as close to 0 ppm as possible. In fact, you should strive to keep it as low as possible for the health of your Pictus Catfish.

If there’s a spike in the ammonia level or at a dangerously high level, perform at least a 25%-50% water change to remove the toxic water from the tank. In the event of an emergency, dosing with a water conditioner like Prime can help detoxify the water almost immediately. So keep a bottle of Prime handy.

3. Frequency of Water Changes

While it may seem like a good idea to frequently change your aquarium water, doing it too often and too massive can disrupt the natural environment, cause undue stress, and be problematic and harmful to Pictus Catfish.

Yes. These fish are indeed hardy, but that doesn’t change the fact that they also crave stability, just like any other fish.

A good rule of thumb is to perform only a 10% to 15% water change every week. This allows you to maintain optimum water quality while giving the fish time to adjust and acclimate.

However, if the water quality begins to deteriorate quickly or there are signs of stress or illness in the fish, more frequent water changes may be necessary.

Reason #6: Your Pictus Catfish Suffers From A Swim Bladder Disease

Staying at the top of the tank can also be an indication that your Pictus Catfish are struggling with swim bladder disease.

This is a common ailment among fish, especially in goldfish and bettas, that affects their ability to control their buoyancy. It can be caused by various factors such as overfeeding, bacterial infections, or poor water quality.

When your Pictus Catfish has a swim bladder disease, it will struggle to maintain its balance in the water, causing it to swim erratically, have difficulty swimming upright, and may float to the surface or sink to the bottom of the tank

But luckily, you can help your Pictus Catfish recover from swim bladder disease by feeding them a sinking or neutrally buoyant diet. Also, raising the temperature of the water can help with healing. And if it’s a bacterial infection causing swim bladder disorder, administering antibiotics would be the best course of action.

Bottom Line

There are many reasons why Pictus Catfish swim at the surface of the water, and identifying them can help you figure out how to address the issue.

It could be nothing at all, and your Pictus Catfish is just playful and exploring the top of the tank. Or it could be something minor, like poor water conditions, and you may just need to make some adjustments in order to get things back on track. Or it could also be something more serious such as a swim bladder disorder.

Whatever the reason is, ensure not to ignore it and pay close attention to their behavior, so you can take appropriate action if needed.

Most importantly, maintain good water quality with consistent temperature and pH levels and ensure that your Pictus Catfish has enough members of its own kind, ample room to swim, and plenty of hiding places. This will go a long way in keeping your fish healthy and happy.