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I have a chance to get two fish which, while unidentified, appear to be a Lophiobagrus species. I would like to get them, but I've heard that Lophiobagrus are said to produce a toxic slime. My question is, is this true, and if so, how big a factor is this when keeping them.

usually6 happens when handling them or bagging them.

Lophio's should be bagged separately from other fish and individually as well.

under normal circumstances they won't poison other fish.
however I've seen a leleupi get in serious trouble after repeatedly attacking a stressed adult L cyclurus female, and I also lost a Ophtalmotilapia heterodonta male wich was housed in a too small tank with a fighting pair of adult Lophio's.

but these 2 incidents (that leleupi survived without any lasting damage) are the only ones I've experienced first hand and I've kept Lophiobagrus with loads of fishes in all kinds of tanks. ranging from fragile things like Enantiopus to robust nasties like Tropheus and Astatotilapia burtoni.

what's the tanksize and wich fishes are there in that tank?

About a 30 gallon tank with hoplos, two juvenile Synodontis filamentosus, and a pleco. There are plenty of caves, but I would be a bit worried that the Lophiobagrus might snuggle up with the fillies, which are favourites of mine, as well as costing £35 each.

I'm not entirely sure that they are Lophiobagrus; they're being sold as Blue shark catfish. I need to go through all the Chrysichthys species as well, and then go back for another look.

Chrysichthys wrote:I'm not entirely sure that they are Lophiobagrus; they're being sold as Blue shark catfish. I need to go through all the Chrysichthys species as well, and then go back for another look.

That's odd. In the What's my Catfish forum someone bought blue whale catfish, which turned out to be . This person added pictures as well, but no location.
It's a long shot, but perhaps it might have any use for you.

Post: Hi ppl I.D Needed plz, Oct 30

Thanks, that actually looks very similar. Lophiobagrus was just my best guess; they aren't being sold as such. In any case I'm going back for another look.

Well, that should be easy to spot: Lophiobagrus look like miniature Bullhead cats, only they're reddish brown instead of gray and even more sturdy built with short thin whiskers.
if a baby Bullhead got into the gym and dosed on steroids, that's something like a Lophio....

if it has a longer built and a V shaped tailfin it's definitely something else.