Brochis Britski. How large can they really get?

[knifegill]

My 'Baensch Aquarien' tells me 20cm. Other sources suggest smaller maximum lengths. Anybody know the true potential?

[Dave Rinaldo]

It seems 20 cm is incorrect.

Brochis britskii

From Identifying Corydoradinae Catfish

Size: The largest specimen found measures 78.6 mm SL. Aquarium specimens reach 80.0 mm SL males, 90.0 mm SL females. Adult specimens in the wild have been said to measure up to 120.0 mm SL (personal observation, Dr. J. Knaack).

[MatsP]

There was some discussion not so long ago about a "7 inch Brochis", but so far no one has been able to show pictures etc.

There is of course always the chance that it's a misidentification, e.g. that it's actually some other large Callichtyidae, such as

Hoplosternum

.

--
Mats

[Carp37]

I really can't envision a 20 cm Brochis- 12 cm is just about believable (but I'd still like to see a photograph in a show tank against a ruler!) and a 9cm female seems about right for maximum normally attainable size.

Edit- I've just noticed that one of the keepers of Brochis multiradiatus quotes 12 cm SL, and this is a pretty similar-sized fish to britskii.

[Richard B]

There was some discussion not so long ago about a "7 inch Brochis", but so far no one has been able to show pictures etc. Mats

I seem to remember this being mentioned - wasn't it something like HH posting about something seen by another member of the scientific community, which therefore carried some 'weight' about its authenticity

[Coryman]

Both Heiko Bleher and Dr Joachim Knnack have reported seeing very large B. britskii the sizes mentioned were between 6 and 7 inches SL. (15 cm to 18 cm).

Having met and worked with the man, I tend to take Knaack's word as being very reliable, but I am not so sure about Heiko Bleher's reliability, especially being famous for his in the field photography. With something as striking as monster Brochis he would have known they would cause quite a stir, so I would ask, why no pictures of such monsters?

The largest I have seen was a specimen that was purchased by a friend in the early 1980's, this fish was judged at a CAGB show and measured 10.5 cm SL. I am very surprised that there are no pictures of this fish around, I know it was well photographed at the time and at the time its price was as impressive as its size.

Ian

[bronzefry]

There was a group at a LFS last summer that averaged out with a TL of 4-1/2". Lots of talk about that group of fish. I think their height/girth plus the length made them look even larger. Quite impressive!
Amanda

[Richard B]

Both Heiko Bleher and Dr Joachim Knnack have reported seeing very large B. britskii the sizes mentioned were between 6 and 7 inches SL. (15 cm to 18 cm).

Having met and worked with the man, I tend to take Knaack's word as being very reliable, but I am not so sure about Heiko Bleher's reliability, especially being famous for his in the field photography. With something as striking as monster Brochis he would have known they would cause quite a stir, so I would ask, why no pictures of such monsters?
Ian

Thanks for the clarification Ian - i'll take your word on the first part naturally & agree totally on the second part - very strange...