Black and silver 'shiny' catfish, ID???

[Annief]

Hi I bought a catfish last weekend, probably about 2" long. My daughter liked it and i was after a catfish to join my new happy community tank. The shop said it will prob grow to about 4" but I dont think they were 100% sure. It is primarily black but with very shiny silver markings on the top and underside. The description in the shop said it was a Black 'something' catfish and Im sure the 'something' meant a word like shiny although i cant be sure. Ive tried to ID it and the closest Ive seen is a Lancer although it isnt stripey. i would know it if someone said it. I have the worst memory ever and could kick myself for not remembering!!






Any ideas???

[Marc van Arc]

Hello,
Reminds me a lot of

Tachysurus fulvidraco

(or something very closely related).

[Jools]

Yup, that's the fish. I have some, nice fish, very hardy but a bit fin nippy.

Jools

[Richard B]

...& if well fed can grow surprisingly quickly!

[Annief]

Thanks for that at least I know now! Anyone know if there a common name for it?? Also how large will it grow and does it get on with most peaceful fish? I only have 2 Moonlight Gouramis and 3 platys in at the moment but am about to add some tetras next week. Are catfish pellets the best thing for them to eat?

[Dave Rinaldo]

Have you read the Cat-eLog Data Sheet in the link above?

Here it is again

Tachysurus fulvidraco

[Dragoneye]

Thats totaly a Tachysurus Fulvidraco.
I have 2 in my 128 gallon tank and it looks comparable to me

[Annief]

Tonight I have noticed one of the gouramis has had part of its (threadlike) fin nipped of and one is now shorter than the other. I only have 3 platys in as well as the male Gourami so dont suspect them so is it likely to have been done by the catfish? I havent seen it go near the Gouramis. Also a quick question will it get on with a L number plec, say a Golden nugget or similar? I would like to get one in the future but not sure how many bottom dwellers I can have (that will get on) I have a 180 litre tank.

[Jools]

The catfish will be responsible for the fin damage I think. I wouldn't suggest a gold nugget or similar, although they (in theory) don't eat the same thing, I just think they'd out compete the catfish for any non-vegetarian food. Fast swimming larger danios or Barilius are what you want to keep with these fish.

Jools

[Annief]

Just an update on whats happened since. I would be interested to hear what you catfish experts think!! I decided not to take the risk and phoned the LFS to say what I had been told. They were ok and said to bring the fish back for a refund or swap. i also printed off some info on the catfish. The shop is very busy being a reptile shop as well and a lady whom I suspect was the owner was very surprised that i thought the catfish was not what they had sold it as. She said her supplier was very reliable and that she hadnt had problems before but said she would look into it. she passed me onto a young guy who works there, he is very knowledgable and i bought my Gouramis from him before. He studies Aquatics at college and was very interested in what i said and said he would take some more pics and take them to show his tutor who has done Taxonomy and knows a lot about specialist fish(think thats what he said, spelling could be wrong) I swapped the fish for another Gourami and some Neons as I was after them anyway. Something quite interesting though was that I found out what they had labled it up as originally, It was a black butterfly catfish. I have tried to find some pics of this but cant find anything??? Also when i took the catfish back it didnt look as dark in the clear bag, the black gravel in my tank must of made it look darker. it actually looked almost see through in places. Could it of been a butterfly fish after all??? Will be going back to the LFS next week to get some more fish and the guy in the shop said he will try and find out some more info on the catfish.

[medaka]

HI Annie

Could it of been a butterfly fish after all?

Fish wholesalers and some LFS, use so-called "common names" when they are unsure exactly what they have been sent by the exporters, or when they think giving the true name might mean a no sale! However; the Asian catfish

Hara hara

is sometimes called a 'butterfly catfish', although they are usually referred to as a moth cat. Any chance of a photo of it; from the shop? If not look in the cat-elog under Erethistidae and see if one of them looks familar.

Also when i took the catfish back it didnt look as dark in the clear bag

This is normal, a lot of fish loose there colour when bagged.

Also there is a very good aquarist society in your area, not a member myself but they would be glad to see you at their meetings, and its another source of info on all your other fish.
See here: -

http://www.bcc.org.uk/group_info/portsm ... ociety.htm

[Annief]

Thanks for the info. it didnt look like that fish but as it was still very young could be anyones guess??? also funnily enough just before i read your post i emailed the Portsmouth Aquarist Society just to check they still have their meeting at the time stated on that link you sent me as i found it too!!!! It is a ten min walk away for me which would be great as I hear they have a bar!!