purported "dwarf bumblebee catfish" (source: Burma

[TommyBoy]

Anyone's/everyone's help would be greatly appreciated. I saw these today at my LFS. He didn't know much other than his source claims they come from Burma.

I would like to know:
1) their scientific name (if available/possible),
2) any habitat & husbandry info (feeding, compatability, etc.) too from your own experience (also if available/possible, especially if we can't identify the scientific name), and
3) any size (TL), breeding, sexing info (ditto above 2 in parens). Today they are just shy of an inch.

Thank you^all in advance (TIA).
--TommyBoy

[Silurus]

Akysis prashadi

or possibly

Akysis vespa

[TommyBoy]

Thanks!

Call me curious... May I ask how you are able to tell? Is it from the pictures? If so, what're you clues? ...or are these 2 species often called "dwarf bumblebee catfish"? ...or???

TIA,
--TommyBoy

PS: If anyone else can confirm, or thinks these guys are a different species, I'd also like to hear from you (and why you think they are what you think they are). Thanks!

[MatsP]

If you have a look at the Cat-eLog -> Common names, you'll find the name Bumble-bee catfish.

When it comes to recognising (cat)fish, Silurus is a bit more than your average expert. He's doing research on catfish at some univiersity in the US (Michigan?), so he's quite familiar with both the common species and many of the less common ones.

When it comes to identifying fish, there's a couple of really helpful things:
1. Photo is almost necessary, except for a few easily distinguished species, but in some cases not enough. Sometimes several pictures from different angles can help, in cases where some fish have distinguishing features for instance on the belly. Good quality on the pictures are always a plus...
2. Where the fish is from helps in many cases.

A good description of features that aren't in the picture, for example if the colour changes due to the fish's mood, or how it behaves in general can help.


I'm not an expert on these fish, so I can't confirm (or deny) that these are what Silurus says, but he's rarely wrong.

--
Mats

[TommyBoy]

Mats: Thanks too.

BTW, I wasn't trying to suggest any doubt/denial of Silurus' ID. I was just wow'd! ...and trying to figure out how he came up with it so readily. So thanks as well for your advice on different pictuare angles, etc.

Now, when I looked up these species I did find Silurus seems to be THE expert on them. And, there's almost nothing written on them apart from here at the Planet. ALAS!

--TommyBoy