found unknown catfish @ lfs, help id (no pic)

aeroflight · Post by **aeroflight** » 15 Feb 2003, 23:26

I found a nice looking catfish at a lfs today. They didn't know what type of cat it was, just that someone had brought it in because they didn't want it anymore. Here's the best description I can provide: about 8"-10" in length, white belly, white-silver-blue hue to the rest of the fish, no visible scales, fin tips were black that faded to match the fish's body color at the root of the fin, a noticable blue color around the fish's eyes. The lfs employee I spoke with said they fed him a feeder fish or two once a week.

I was quite attracted to the fish, but I'd like to know what I'd be getting into if I purchased him. Any help is appreciated! Thanks!

Post by **Silurus** » 16 Feb 2003, 01:18

Is is this guy? If it is, it's a shark catfish.

[Mod edit: update link... --Mats]

aeroflight · Post by **aeroflight** » 16 Feb 2003, 01:37

You know, I've been looking through the Cat-eLog for the past couple hours, and that's the closest thing I've seen so far. But I'm not convinced, yet. I read that the black coloration of the shark catfish greys out as it grows, and this one still had very black colors on its fins. The body of the shark catfish looks to be quite silverish/grey. This one was really quite light. Anyways, thanks for the help.

I may try to get a friend to lend me his digital camera on Monday. I think this may be the only way to truly id the fish, unless I get lucky going through the Cat-eLog one by one

.

Sid Guppy · Post by **Sid Guppy** » 16 Feb 2003, 13:41

Maybe it's this one; it's blueish, will eat small fish and they show up in the LFS often enough.
Pangasius sanitswongi

mind you; this is a baby; it gets REALLY BIG....

or this one (much rarer in the trade)
Pangasius pangasius

aeroflight · Post by **aeroflight** » 17 Feb 2003, 01:19

Thanks!

Now that I've learned a little more about catfish, I'll go back to the store with a better idea of what to look for. Hopefully I'll be able to figure it out!

Thanks ...

Anyone know how big pangasius pangasius gets? I looked it up in the Cat-eLog, but it doesn't have any info. I must admit, though, the coloring around the eye of the adult appears to be the same. Thanks.

Post by **Rusty** » 17 Feb 2003, 01:44

According to fishbase.org, they max out at 3 meters... Most (if not all) Pangasiidae sp. aren't suitable for the home aquaria.

Rusty

aeroflight · Post by **aeroflight** » 17 Feb 2003, 02:48

That is a big fish.

Yeah, I don't think many home aquariums could house a fish that large.

If that is the true identity of my unknown fish, I definitely won't be getting him. My 135g won't support anything close to 9 feet long!

Post by **Silurus** » 17 Feb 2003, 03:12

According to fishbase.org, they max out at 3 meters

Another case of fishbase screwing up. <i>Pangasius pangasius</i> is one of the smaller pangasiids and will max out at a meter.
Still, not a fish for the home aquarium...

coelacanth · Post by **coelacanth** » 17 Feb 2003, 12:43

There are a couple of other possibilities that spring to mind. Cetopsis fit the description fairly well, also young Brachyplatystoma other than juruense.
How long are the barbels on this creature?
If the information you got from the store about it being brought back by a customer was correct then it is more likely that it is one of the fish already mentioned, as these two are rather specialist in nature, but I thought it worth checking out.

Post by **Dinyar** » 17 Feb 2003, 23:46

Aeroflight,

If the fish in your LFS is ANY of the fish these respondents mentioned, you don't want to get it. In fact, the fact that someone else brought it back because it was too much trouble to keep may well be the most telling sign of all.

Dinyar
________________________

Common sense is the most uncommon form of intelligence.

aeroflight · Post by **aeroflight** » 18 Feb 2003, 01:42

I think I've come to similar conclusions myself. I tend to think that if a person brings a fish into a lfs, it probably hasn't been kept in very good conditions and won't live out its full life. Either that or it's been eating whatever other fish they may have tried to put in the tank, too. Anyways ...

Still I'd really like to know for sure what type of fish it was. If I can positively id the fish as one of the ones mentioned in this thread, I'll stay away. These fish are a little too big for my taste.

However, if it turns out to be reasonable for a home aquarium, it may be something to consider in the future. I'd rather buy a young fish (maybe a couple inches long) that I know I can take care of and watch it mature, than just buy some random "cool-looking" fish from any lfs.