PlanetCatfish.com

let me know what you think

note how the tail is not lobed.

This is an Auchenipterid for certain. When comfortable, does it show dark spots on a lighter body? If so, it could be Trachelyopterus sp. otorongo, a still undescribed species.

Marc van Arc wrote:This is an Auchenipterid for certain. When comfortable, does it show dark spots on a lighter body? If so, it could be Trachelyopterus sp. otorongo, a still undescribed species.

Thanks, the lfs has a name for it but isnt' so sure about it's true species name. The common name that was given to them is black leopard catfish. Though I know its' not morrowi.

I got the fish yesterday, so it hasn't been comfortable yet. I can get more pics up soon.

do you think mine looks skinny?

heres a couple more pics:

Actually yes. But don't despair, these fish are pretty tough. Feed it properly and within a few weeks you should see some results. Don't overfeed, however.
Are there any other fish in the same tank? If so, feed when the lights are out. These fish are nocturnal, especially in the beginning. Good luck & let us know if things work out fine.

Thanks, he had a couple shrimp pellets to eat last night and I tossed a couple more in this morning. No other fish w/ him. He's currently in a planted 10 gal w/ plenty of cover.

I'm hoping to keep this guy in one of two community tanks. One is a long/short 45 gal pleco/doradid river tank. Or the other will be either a 75g or 125g with convicts, silver dollars, angel fish and a severum. What do you think would be more suitable?

looks very much like lisomadoras morrowi

I think it could be too. Hope time will tell.

chef wrote:looks very much like lisomadoras morrowi

Alas, I have to disappoint you both here: definetely not Liosomadoras morrowi. These are much higher, whereas this fish is slender. Moreover, traumatic's fish is much more beautiful than a morrowi; just give it some time. If it is what I think, you have a brilliant Auchenipterid.
Were there more in your LFS? A pair would be nice and it's very easy to sex them.
I think it would nicely fit into the 125, but it must be in better shape before you introduce it there. Should you do that now, it would have too much competition for food.

thanks, the lfs had 3 or four more there. Not a bad Idea to have a pair.

Good. Make sure you pick the right gender and - if possible - try to obtain one which is a little fatter.
Btw: I need a new monitor upstairs; the downstairs monitor clearly shows the dark spots on your fish....

i would'nt rule out morrowi just yet as it seems to be a young fish that needs a bit of feeding up still but it could also be an unidentified liosomadoras sp also

This is definitely not a Liosomadoras, as the body is too elongate and the caudal fin is truncate (vs. emarginate or gently forked in Liosomadoras). Besides, L. morrowi (or what I think is L. morrowi) tends to have less distinct spotting.

wanted to update on this fish.

He/she has gotten darker, doesn't move much at all. I've been feeding small fish chunks, and blood worms. He'll be in a ten gallon tank for a short while, then when I get my river tank setup, he'll go in there. I appreciate all your help w/ my fish and I'll try to get pics up when the fish gets fatter.

traumatic wrote: He/she has gotten darker

That's good. Looks like it is more at ease now. If all goes well the colour pattern will become much more striking.

traumatic wrote: doesn't move much at all.

Not to worry. Typical Auchenipterid behaviour. Things are wrong when they are getting (over-)active during the day.

With regard to the he/she: the male will develop a genital papilla at the beginning of the anal fin. This is easily distinguished. Further information on this issue can be found in the Cat-eLog under Auchenipteridae.
Thanks for the update.

Are we still going for the otorongo cat in the ID? I'd go for that if the fish didn't appear to be really long in the body? Maybe it's just the angle of the pics?

Jools

Yes, I would do so. I agree that the body is elongated, but the same goes for Trachelyopterus fisheri, which appears much more slender than T. galeatus for instance.
So Trachelyopterus sp. otorongo would do until this one gets a scientific ID.

A little update; I still have this guy. He must be close to 3 years old now. He has propped himself into a spot where I can see him everyday. He's eating a lot, still looks the same as the pics posted here. I can try to get more pics for this thread and hopefully get an ID or possibly use the pic for a future ID.

I'd love to get more, even some different species auchenipterids as well. A little help please!!!

traumatic wrote: I can try to get more pics for this thread and hopefully get an ID or possibly use the pic for a future ID.

Yes, do so. Good pictures will always make nice assets to the Cat-eLog.
As you may have noticed, your species sits under , which indicates it still has no scientific name (afaik).

traumatic wrote: I'd love to get more, even some different species auchenipterids as well. A little help please!!!

The best thing you can do is ask your LFS to order Auchenipterids of your choice, which you could pick from the Cat-eLog. Then make a list with names and let the LFS check their availability.
That's how I usually get my fish. Or get in the car and drive a few hundred kilometres to visit several shops on one day. But of course I don't know if that is an option for you.

Well, I can see that you have been doing some legwork. I've been looking on and off through importers and such, never any luck on any of these. It seems that if they don't have a common name then they don't get put on the shelf.

Perhaps you've noticed that some Auchenipterids in the Cat-eLog have common names. for example is known as Midnight catfish or Zamora. So both names should get you this species.

Ageneiosidae are known as Gulper catfish. But which species?? You probably don't want one that grows to 2 feet. That would become a gamble.

When exporters have native or even fantasy names for fishes, things get ever worse (see list below).
Because how could you ever order a fish by its Peruvian, native or fantasy name? The chances are very limited that you even know them.
However, this list might help you. If one of your contacts gets fishes from Peru, maybe these names do ring a bell.

I'll try to explain where possible.

Common Peruvian name/Scientific name
Max cat Parauchenipterus max cat - a (large) Trachelyopterus species
Novia brown Tayta sp. Brown - Tatia brunnea
Novia bull Tayta sp. Bull
Novia common Tayta sp. - Tatia intermedia
Novia Lima Tayta sp.
Novia otorongo Tayta otorongo - That's yours!
Novia sissors Tayta sissors
Novia tatia Tayta tatia
Novia tapia Tayta sp.
Novia torito Tayta sp.
Novia tiger Tayta sp.
Novia zapato Tayta zapato - Trachycorystes trachycorystes
Oil fish Tayta reticulata - oil catfish is Tatia perugiae
Pijuayo cat Parauchenipterus pijuayo
Pollera cat Parauchenipterus pollera

All Parauchenipterus can be identified as Trachelyopterus species; all Tayta are of course Tatia species.
Note that your fish is named Tayta instead of Parauchenipterus.
I personally wouldn't mind getting 5 specimen of each Tayta species listed, except for the Zapato. I know that's a very large and mean fish. But suppose you don't know? You expect something small and get . Scary!
But in case all I knew would be for instance Pollera cat, I wouldn't order.
It could be any Peruvian catfish....
Also note that Latin/scientific names are poorly spelled and almost all are incorrect.

Hope this may be any good to you. If you still have (or got more) questions, pls ask.

Wow, I really appreciate the help there. I could do some damage with that list. Very interesting info!