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Diamond Talking Catfish
Posted: 05 Jul 2005, 14:13
by Chrysichthys
LFS has a fish going by this common name. Well, I ID'd it for them, it's Megalodoras uranoscopus for sure.
I'm just curious about the common name. Has anybody else seen them sold as Diamond talking catfish? And why might you call them that?
Posted: 05 Jul 2005, 14:19
by natefrog
They might call them this because of the diamond shaped scutes or plates that run laterally along the fishes body. When adults these sections of thorny armour are very much diamond shaped.
Got a big tank? If I had the opportunity I'm not sure I could pass on this fish.
Posted: 05 Jul 2005, 21:39
by corybreed
Megalodoras uranoscopus, formally irwini is a very peaceful giant doradid. In nature it feeds on fruits and snails. It is not a fussy feeder in the aquarium. I have kept a few over the years and have a 12inch specimen now. You will need a very large tank of at least 6 feet. I have not heard of a common name used for this fish in the aquarium trade other than "giant armored cat".
Mark
Posted: 06 Jul 2005, 14:19
by Chrysichthys
Axelrod's Atlas refers to them as Soldier catfish, I suppose because of the armour.