Two questions, one thread. Electric catfish ID and Syno...

[knifegill]

I'm going to try to attach a picture. Not sure why I'm bothering, but I feel obligated to at least try. Can anybody tell me which electric catfish species this might be?

The file is too big, maximum allowed size is 512 KiB.

PlanetCatfish fail. How am I supposed to shrink a picture? Think I'm some kind of genius?


Second, are all synodontis cats compatible with e-cats or just certain species that are found in the same habitat?

[knifegill]

In light of this forum's inability to host photos, I'm linking to my MFK thread in hopes that somebody can transfer the photos like someone did for me once before. Is this a college thing? Why is my computer knowledge already so outdated? I'm only 28. Perhaps my militant dislike of technology is catching up to me...

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forum ... p?t=396460

[Birger]

In light of this forum's inability to host photos, I'm linking to my MFK thread in hopes that somebody can transfer the photos like someone did for me once before. Is this a college thing? Why is my computer knowledge already so outdated? I'm only 28. Perhaps my militant dislike of technology is catching up to me...

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forum ... p?t=396460

Hi Knifegill...as far as I know Jools has tried to be in contact with you about your issues attaching photos here on PC with no reply from you..make that contact and then hopefully you will be able to load pictures on your own as others do.

Until that time as I am not a member on that forum I await your pictures and am looking forward to trying to ID your fish.

Thanks Birger

[knifegill]

Yes, I've spoken with Jools through PM.


Say, after comparing photos and watching physical traits closely, I think I have m. barbatus. This is determined solely by noticing the height of the eyes above midline. What kind of ray count, etc. can I do to differentiate between this and m. electricus. In all likelihood, my cat is just a weakly marked m. electricus, but the face is so different. I mean, the other two cats in the tank at the LFS were textbook m. eletricus by looking at the eyes, face, color and fatness. Mine has a thinner build, flatter head and higher-set eyes and seems more purple than the red of the others. So, what I'm saying is that this one definitely showed traits that were different from the other two e-cats in the store.

[MatsP]

If you google "IrfanView", that's a photo editor. It allows you to resize images using the Image->Resize/Resample and select a size that is suitable (I'd say 800-1000 pixels on the long side).

I don't like your assertion that it's a failure for Planet Catfish that we can't take bigger files - how big a file do you think we should accept? 1MB, 2MB, 6MB, 12MB - if I don't resize my images from my camera, they come out at 11MB. Now, if nothing else, you'd probably complain that it takes a long time to upload the picture at that size. What if someone comes along with a medium format camera (Hasselblad or Mamiya) with a digital back that produces files that are over 50MB - should we let those upload their files too?

As you probably realize, there has to be a limit somewhere. 512KB is PLENTY for a reasonable size image (bigger than approx 1000 pixels, and they won't display very well anyways).

--
Mats

[Richard B]

Second, are all synodontis cats compatible with e-cats or just certain species that are found in the same habitat?

I have seen electric cats kept successfully with a number of other species for long periods without incident. That said i wouldn't do it personally because of the potential for mishap. I once picked up/handled a 2inch electric for a bet & let me tell you - NEVER AGAIN.

In the wild, smaller fish do "shoal" together but larger individuals seem solitary - this behaviour (keeping multiple specimens) IMHO cannot be adequately replicated within the confines of an aquarium

[knifegill]

512KB is PLENTY

I don't really understand why photos even have sizes on the internet, so I didn't know that that number was a reasonable one. I'll try that IrfanView out a few times but three strikes and it's out. If we have digital cameras and digital storage, why can't we have digital photos that work on the internet? Seems like a contradiction for the system to offer us technology that requires an associate's degree in computer knowledge to use properly. You're right, though, it's not Planetcatfish's problem. There are probably lots of other forums that put mysterious limits on photo sizes. It must be a challenge to host and display larger pictures in some way. Hang in there, forums. I trust someday we can all figure this out.

[MatsP]

I'm pretty certain that your camera has a setting to take smaller pictures - that may be another option. Since I don't even know what camera you have, I can't say what those options are or how you change it (or if it's enough to reduce the size sufficiently).

The real problem here is that most digital cameras (these days) product photos that are WAY bigger in pixels [the little dots that make up a picture] than the size of the biggest screen I've ever worked with. Even a 4MP camera produces about three times as much pixels as my 1440 x 900 screen that I'm using right now. So, the picture needs to be resized either way - it's just a question of whether YOU do it, or we add code to do it here on Planet Catfish. On other forums that I know of, the picture needs to be reduced from the camera output if you have a "good enough" camera - where that limit goes, depends on the forum - one says 1024 x 768 pixels (and 1.9MB max size in bytes for ANY attachment, whether photo or something else), this forum says 512KB (which, in practice, is roughly equivalent to 1024 x 768 for average pictures).

Jools did say that he was going to look into an "automatic picture resizer", so this MAY solve the problem - but I'm not sure it will be completely without limit...

--
Mats

[exasperatus2002]

If you dont want to take the time to resize then set up a photobucket account & then post the link to the pictures here. Thats what I do for all of them.

example when posting it'll give you 4 options. This one is the direct link & will put the pic up in the post if you select the img tab on planet catfishes site.


this is the thumbnail option-
[url][/url]

[Viktor Jarikov]

Hi Knifegill! Don't get me wrong, I like you and don't wanna come off grouchy but...

(1) I found no pics on that 3-page MFK thread you linked above. Unless I am missing something, I do not get it.

(2) This thread is not the place for discussing photo issues. I will pm you with my 2 cents, if you would like that and don't mind. Still, I am the guiltiest of all for not sticking to the thread topic but sometimes, like here, I try.

[knifegill]

No, no. I deserve to get grouched at. I was posting in frustration and I should know better than to do that by now.

I think I will take the spam and sign up for photobucket.

You need a certain number of minimum posts to view photos on MFK.

[knifegill]

Trying from photobucket.

[Birger]

How similar is it to the first picture here

Malapterurus barbatus

Mind you I do not think this first picture is Malapterurus barbatus, I am thinking something else.

I think picture # 3 is Malapterurus barbatus.

I can do more looking tomorrow.

Birger

[knifegill]

So it's most likely not the most common one, then?

[racoll]

Perhaps my militant dislike of technology is catching up to me...

Haha, this might have more to do with it.

It is worth remembering though, that a 20 second job for one person is way beyond the technical ability of others.

I couldn't find much info in the FAQ on this, so as it's a commonly encountered problem, is it worth a quick step-by-step guide for Windows users in the FAQ (I'm assuming Mac and Linux users are already savvy enough...)?

[knifegill]

Better shots of mouth of any use?

[Viktor Jarikov]

Are you saying nobody gave you any good clues yet? I wish I could. The only thing I can tell you is that my e-cat is very, very similar looking, and I always assumed it was a M. electricus (without any good grounds), but the snout on yours looks longer, more stretched out. Do you want a photo of my guy?

Great help. Aren't I?

may be this thread by Tyler aka Industrial could help... http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/view ... industrial

BTW, I now can see those pics on the MFK! (I've got 11 posts). You were right.

Did you address Birger's question?

The pics are cut off (they are fine on the MFK thread but not here)

[knifegill]

Oh, no. Mine looks a lot like that giant one on the video!

Specifically what should I address concerning Birger?

Either way, this is a happy catfish I have right here. Sees me coming and knows it's food time. So far earthworm halves are the staple. He's eaten a baby platy but didn't touch mealworms.

[Birger]

If you could make the comparison I mentioned previously, a few posts up.
Sorry, I have not had much other time this week to look, but will yet.

Birger

[knifegill]

Well, yes, mine looks a little like both pics in the barbatus file. It also looks a little like all the other electric catfish except for the shots of long-dead fish. I understand that preserved specimens are useful to have around for counting scales, fin rays, etc. But what use is a photo of a crusty old chunk of brown meat?

I'm not holding my breath. I don't believe there is such a thing as an expert on electric catfish.

[Birger]

Hi knifegill

There actually is a difference if you know what to look for.

You can purchase and sort out the different species for yourself with this http://www.nhbs.com/a_revision_of_the_a ... 36647.html

[knifegill]

I believe I've found excerpts from that text describing differences in internal structures like gillrakers or throat teeth. See, I'm not too keen on dissecting my Ecat because that would pretty much defeat the purpose of ID'ing him. It's alright. I'll just feed him and change his water and upgrade as necessary. Anybody asks which kind he/she is, I'll have to confess that I didn't feel like turning him inside out to find out the truth.

If anybody is up for the challenge, I can take a series of photos highlighting his every external feature. But apart from X-rays I don't know how to tell what's on the inside.

[knifegill]

Well, whatever he is he's doing well. I dumped in a lot of blackworm and he ate his fill leaving the rest for later, so now I know he won't overeat to death. He has grown, too. I'm now culturing guppies for him to eat.

[Viktor Jarikov]

Good job. I love these dairy-like accounts on one fish. Very clear and informative for all. Keep us posted, please.

[knifegill]

He won't eat his betta, but has enjoyed some marbled crayfish and a few guppy fry. Still, he prefers blackworm and the like. He doesn't even like earthworms anymore. He also grows each time I feed him. That betta's luck must run out sometime...

The cat's about five inches long now, and in a 20g tank which receives very large water changes. My next goal is to get him to eat some fish meat.

[bzau]

I've got the answer to one question: How to shrink these pictures, This squidoo lens shows several methods http://www.squidoo.com/Shrink_A_Picture . Free and Easy! Hope it helps someone--- BZAU

[knifegill]

He's growing rapidly and finally ate his betta!

[Viktor Jarikov]

good news

[knifegill]

In other news, he definitely looks like the normal variety now that he's put on some size.