Genuine Synodontis Granulosus?

[trap]

hey,
recently visited a fish shop with my friend and notice they had some of these catfish in stock he had been after one for quite a while an were up for £120, so he purchased it. I'm now debating whether to get one as I have recently opened up a 300ltr+sump Tanganyika cichlid aquarium. can someone please help ID this catfish as I have laid a £20 deposit on it but unsure whether its the real deal or a hybrid.
(please note that the top main fin had been bitten but does have white marking)
Many Thanks Tim
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVQl45ig ... e=youtu.be

[Richard B]

This doesn't look a true WC granulosua.

This fish has surfaced a few times in dicussion as either a hybrid granulosa x polli or a captive bred fish with deficiencies

http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/view ... &start=120
http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/view ... 24#p262724

[trap]

This doesn't look a true WC granulosua.

This fish has surfaced a few times in dicussion as either a hybrid granulosa x polli or a captive bred fish with deficiencies

http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/view ... &start=120
http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/view ... 24#p262724

did you have a watch of the video that I uploaded with it?
also he got its from a maidenhead aquatics down London way and they supposedly stock from Neil hardy aquatics which bred the real S. Granulosus? the picture doesn't do it justice as this was another one being kept in a tank with some Malawi cichlids and another Synodontis which was biting him. what are the main things that separate fakes from genuine.
thanks for quick reply

[Richard B]

The fish in the video looks genuine

[trap]

I will load a better video up later, but there was 3 and the one in video is from the same batch and supplier as ones in picture, he was the same colour and fins were scraggy but once in a tank on his own he went darker and less stressed.

[trap]

heres a better video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7tJK6KtU1E

[Birger]

The fish looks genuine to me.
Your he may be a she but could not say definately from these pictures.

Birger

[Richard B]

Fish in both videos looks genuine.

It is only the 2 side on photos (head pointing downwards) that look unusual. The head appears short & the body spots are a little large & obvious, even for a young &/or stressed fish. How big are these ones? The spots should have gone by the time the fish has a body of 3-3.5"

[trap]

I'd say at max 3", he/she is being attacked, but after further research my friend has phoned the maidenhead aquatics and asked if they can prove they are genuine and they said they have all irreverent invoices and paper work to prove it and are quite happy to show and give copys, also they have come from Neil hardy aquatics which is the only UK known breeder of genuine synodontis granulosus. So I'd be shocked if fake guess I will have to see the paperwork and have a closer look, also bear in mind my flash was on on these photos plus the aquarium lighting too.
Thanks for all your replys guys.

[Richard B]

I'd say at max 3", he/she is being attacked, but after further research my friend has phoned the maidenhead aquatics and asked if they can prove they are genuine and they said they have all irreverent invoices and paper work to prove it and are quite happy to show and give copys, also they have come from Neil hardy aquatics which is the only UK known breeder of genuine synodontis granulosus. So I'd be shocked if fake guess I will have to see the paperwork and have a closer look, also bear in mind my flash was on on these photos plus the aquarium lighting too.
Thanks for all your replys guys.

I'll start by saying i mean no disrespect to anyone.

I've been to NHA & seen the Granulosa spawning set up & breeding stock. NHA (Neil Hardy Aquatica) is the only place in the world to raise any granulosa that i'm aware of & i wouldn't hear a bad word said against them.

The fish in the 2 pics i've referred to just dont look as good as they should in terms of overall shape but they may well be genuine. However if i buy any type of fish, i want it to be a great example of that species.

IMHO only DNA testing can truly say what a fish is & @Racoll has done this with some hybrids but it hasn't been done far enough really.

A receipt is all well & good but it is only for something ordered & something supplied. Im not saying this is the case here but i know of totally reputable dealers ordering baby grannys years ago before anyone knew what they actually looked like & selling them on, only to find out several years later they actually weren't (& they weren't cheap either).

If at all possible i'd be looking to get the fish in the video or one identical to it.

Hope this all makes sense & comes across as i intend it to.

[trap]

I totally understand. the fish in the video looked exactly the same as the one in picture and was from same batch and same supplier, bear in mind there was 3grannys plus 15 other Malawi fish in no more than a 70ltr tank, my friend purchased the one he liked and took a few days to slightly darker up after being in a 275ltr tank by himself before introducing fish.
I then went back to shop just for a look about and there the other two sat one in top corner being attacked by the other and not doing a lot of moving (the one in picture) so I decided to lay a £20 deposit on the dominant one, providing they moved into a more suitable tank.
so what i'm getting at is the one in the video looked no different from the other two and all 3 have come from NHA the spots markings and everything the same its just had time to calm and do its own thing where the one in pic had been in this tank since February/march time.
I no your not meaning any disrespect or anything and just trying to help me out.