PlanetCatfish.com

are these two catfishes the same?
I bought a pterygoplichthys gibbiceps, but when i try to find it on the internet, i keep getting info on the Glyptoperichthys gibbiceps....

So are they the same then?
What size will he get?
I Find info that he will be 50 cm, and info that he will be 20 cm.
What L number is it?

Also I want to ask you guys on what I have to be alert at to see when they get to large for my Aqua?
Offcourse the size, but what would really show me that he is not happy anymore and i would have to find a new home for him and my L18?

I have a 100 cm long aqua and 2 large (both 30cm) pieces of wood and many plants.

I knew what I was getting into, when I got them, but I can bring them back to the store before they get to big.
But what exactly is to big?

The pterygoplichthys gibbiceps is now about 5 cm, and from what I,ve read he is a fast grower.

My L18 is about 10 cm...but the store who sold the L18 to me, daid he would get 12 to 15 cm.
But i guess that's not true.

A lot of quastions but I hope you guys can help me out a bit.
Thanks

So are they the same then?

Yes

What size will he get?

I have seen fish at 50cm TL. Bear in mind that the data in the cat-elog is in SL.

What L number is it?

The L number system was brought in in 1988 to differentiate "species" that had not been been described by science yet. Seeing as Glyptoperichthys gibbiceps was described in 1854, there is no need for an L-number.



The point at which it becomes too big is whenever one of the following occurs.

1. The fish can't turn round properly. This is usually when the length of the fish exceeds 50% of the width of the tank. ie 6" in a 12" wide tank.

2. When you are unable to keep nitrates below a threshhold of about 40mg/l. As the fish eats more and more, your water changes will have to become more frequent.


Hope this helps

yes, very much, thanks a lot!

Hi Holland,
In case a question like this may puzzle you again: there is a synonyms list where you can find old(-er), invalid names which are linked to the valid ones. It's the alphabetical list; the other (by valid species) is when you know the correct name and want to find out what a fish used to be called. Both lists sit under the Cat-eLog button in the upper toolbar.

hey,

thanks, I didn't see that yet.
I sometimes find this site a bit hard to navigate.

Dus bedankt

holland wrote:I sometimes find this site a bit hard to navigate.

Well, it's just a matter of getting used to I think. And if things are not clear, just ask. There are plenty of helpful people around here.
So, you're welcome (graag gedaan).

I've noticed that about the people here.
Very helpfull, and giving advise, without being judgemental about things.

So thanks again!

The biggest ive ever seen is 30cm, and i see those everywhere!!
just today, i saw two sitting next to each other in my LFS, in a tank with a big Bala Shark

ok thanks.

I knew he would get large, but didnt now how large exactly, caus of all the different information i find on the internet.

I've certainly seen LARGE ones, 35-40cm. One of the problems is that they often get killed (not intentionally of course) by their owners, because MOST people do not have the tank-capacity to keep these really big fish. That's the same with may other big fish, of course.

You probably need a tank in the region of 800 liter to keep a 50 cm Gibbiceps. And whilst there are tanks that size available to buy, they aren't what most people have in their living/bed-rooms.

--
Mats

I'm not gonna keep this catfish for so long offcourse.
I allready have a new home for him when he will get to big and can't grow properly anymore.

I just wanted to find out, what other things I should be alert of, beside just his length.

But I will not let it get so far, only for my own pleasure of keeping this fish in my tank.
The fish come firt offcourse

thanks for the help everyone!