What is my catfish?

[Born24]

What d'ya reckon on these lil guys?

Sorry for the poor photos

[bekateen]

Hi Born24,

I think you're going to need better photos. It seems you have

Panaqolus

there, but the exact species is difficult to ID (for me at least).

The spotted tail on the second photo suggests a few species:

• Panaqolus sp(2)
• Panaqolus sp(L206)
• Panaqolus sp(L271)

Based on the number of registered owners, I'd rule out the first (sp(2)). Based on the low number of alternating pale bands on the dorsal fin, I'd lean towards

Panaqolus sp(L206)

.

Are these your fish? If so, by what name did you buy them? For sure, better photos will be needed for a firm ID.

Cheers, Eric

[Born24]

I agree with you that L206 is probably the closest match. I don't have any adults but I have seen them and they don't have the pattern on the head.

These are my fish but I didn't buy them.

[bekateen]

I don't have any adults but I have seen them and they don't have the pattern on the head.

These are my fish but I didn't buy them.

The parents may lack the head pattern; this pattern fades with age. But it ought to be present in juveniles and subadults; do your specimens have the pattern? This feature is not evident in your photos.

You've got me curious - These are your fish, but you didn't buy them, and yours are juveniles but you've seen the adults. Are these a gift from a breeder? If so, how nice. If not, it sounds like you stole them. (just kidding)

Also, you didn't mention how were they named when you got them. Did the source have a name for them? They are nice fish, no matter the ID.

Cheers, Eric

[Born24]

There isn't any head pattern on any of the fish, the head is just paler than the body. I will try and get a better photo but I clouded the water up trying to get a photo earlier. To add to your suspicions... they were not a gift from a breeder, or anyone else for that matter, and I didn't certainly didn't steal them.

[bekateen]

There isn't any head pattern on any of the fish, the head is just paler than the body.

That is odd about the head pattern. I would expect a clear (and beautiful) head pattern on juvies and subadults.

To add to your suspicions... they were not a gift from a breeder, or anyone else for that matter, and I didn't certainly didn't steal them.

Cheers, Eric

[Born24]

Had another go at getting a picture of the head.

[N0body Of The Goat]

L397

?