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So, I have two Cephalosilurus fowleri enroute from Peru. They should be with me on wednesday. Unfortunately I wasn't able to obtain photographs from the Peruvian supplier and I have read that the fish exported are often C. apurensis and not true fowleri.

I'll posts pics when they arrive on here but I wondered if anyone had anything to add about the wrong species being sold etc.

If it's coming from Peru, it's not likely to be C. fowleri unless it's smuggled in which case it will be expensive.

Jools

C. fowleri exist in only one river system in Brazil, the Sao Francisco in the southeastern part of the country so it's unlikely that the fish will be genuine c. fowleri. I have a c. fowleri 10 years on now and I haven't seen one available since. C. apurensis are more common and come from Peru and Venezuela so that species is probably what it will be. Having kept c. apurensis as well, they are still very similar in appearance and behaviour but will grow a bit larger over time. Both species tend to be better kept alone past the juvenile stage, (not with another pseudopimelodus species including their own) or with other fish that are too big for them to eat. In either case, cehpalosilurus species are great fish to keep!

Thanks for the feedback. Having done some research before placing the order I realised there was a very real chance of it being apurensis.

I also realise that fowleri come from one river system in Brazil, but I was under the impression that apurensis come from Venezuela and not Peru. My info here came from fishbase and aquatic republic. Has it since been found in Peru also?

Hoping for the real thing, but not the end of the world if not. I'll post some pics and video on here later.

Jools, what would you call "expensive"?

I also checked fish base and other sources and no, c. apurensis are not known to exist in Peru, only in Venezuela, sorry to mislead. Likely your two were imported into Peru as happens with some Brazilian species at times too, in particular rare species banned from export by Brazil it seems. Last time I checked a while ago, c. fowleri were not on that list so you never know...

Hi All,

Checking GBIF, it states that C. apurensis also occur in Colombia:

https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/map?taxon_key=2344117

Cheers, Eric

Thanks again for the additional info.

I can't find anything suggesting that fowleri are banned from export in Brazil. Can anyone else?

If they're not on the undernoted list, they're effectively banned.

https://www.planetcatfish.com/common/ib ... e_list.php

Jools

Jools wrote: ↑13 Nov 2017, 21:30 If they're not on the undernoted list, they're effectively banned.

https://www.planetcatfish.com/common/ib ... e_list.php

Jools

Thanks again Jools. That's a very interesting read. I should take delivery tomorrow morning so we'll see what we get.

Just putting together a Corydoras order as I type. Will be fun matching the invoice names to what really turns up next week.

Thanks Jools for posting the IBAMA approved export list, many questions now answered from past inquiries on the subject as a result. No wonder a c. fowleri hasn't shown up for sale in recent years, being banned from export. Also notable and missing from the same list are two pseudopimelodus species, p. mangurus and p. charus never seen for sale anyway. Several microglanis species are included as well. Most notable to me anyway as far as 'wish list fish" goes is that lophiosilurus alexandri, "pac-man catfish" seems to be banned as well. A few have been successfully captive bred in recent years but not seen for sale lately that I know of, unfortunately. Having checked my 'my fish' list, I've had my c. fowleri for over 12 1/2 years now, she's quite pampered and more precious now that I know I'll never see another...

I doubt anyone will be surprised to find out that they are in fact Cephalosilurus apurensis.

Very nice looking fish though.