I think Loricariidae ? Pterygoplichthys

[Hightigh]

Hi!
This is a fish that I'm looking to adopt. The guy who has it knows nothing about it just that it's a catfish. I don't know much about catfish myself so I was looking on your site. Im pretty sure that it's a Loricariidae of some description and I was thinking Pterygoplichthys as it has lots of bones in it's fin, just wanted to know if I was on the right track and if so what exact sort it was!









Thank you for your help

[Bas Pels]

I do agree Pterogoblichthys, but species? beat me

[Silurus]

I think

Pterygoplichthys disjunctivus

.

[Hightigh]

Thanks for the responses

I wasn't sure about pterygoplichthys disjunctivus since they all look like they have dark undertones to their skin, nearly black, where as this guy(or girl, LOL) has the yellow/lighter look. But the reticulated pattern does look like it, just a bit chunkier

[har_eh]

Hey

It's the Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps imo. I had one myself they grow quite big so your tank has to be large enough to keep him.

[Hightigh]

I'll be putting him into an 8ft x2ft tank, think that should be big enough, if it is a gibbiceps. I'd thought it might be a gibbiceps too, but couldn't find one with the reticulated pattern that he's got.

The page on the gibbiceps said that they have a "bump" on their heads, which is why they are called gibbiceps, but I couldn't distinguish a "bump" in any of the photos that was any different to the other pterygoplichthys,

[Chrysichthys]

The pattern isn't right for a gibbiceps; I think Silurus is probably right. (He usually is).

[Hightigh]

I'm sorry to harp on this,
I really thought that the disjuncitvis looked to be too dark and the pattern too small. Maybe it's a hybrid of some description? ( I don't know if they have hybrids )

[racoll]

Pterygoplichthys joselimaianus

if you ask me.

[DutchFry]

I agree with racoll, L001 it is. beautifully marked specimen though!

the dorsal fin is simply too large for pardalis or disjunctivus.

[pictus_man_77]

Agreed on the Jose, We have one that looks almost identical where I work. Looks to be about the same size aswell.

[sidguppy]

I don't agree with it being joselimaianus.

the joselimaianus has a spotted pattern of orange spots on a brown background

this one had a yellowish vermiculate ("wormy") pattern on a lightbrown background.

it's especially clear on the head; the entire head has a different pattern when compared to joselimaianus.

[DutchFry]

i'm not sure if it's possible, but could this be a hybrid between L001 and P. disjunctivus? since they are bred in huge bassins with different Pterygoplichthys species present?

anyway, i've never seen a pardalis or disjunctivus with such a big dorsal, which is typical for L001 and L083.

[racoll]

the joselimaianus has a spotted pattern of orange spots on a brown background

this one had a yellowish vermiculate ("wormy") pattern on a lightbrown background.

it's especially clear on the head; the entire head has a different pattern when compared to joselimaianus.

You are right Sid, but P. joselimaianus is the closest match of the Pterygoplichthys I am familiar with.

but could this be a hybrid between L001 and P. disjunctivus? since they are bred in huge bassins with different Pterygoplichthys species present?

I hope not, but it is a possibility I suppose.

[Hightigh]

I'm glad it's not just me who isn't sure, LOL, not that that's a good thing!
Still in the same predicament, it's the patterning that is confusing, doesn't match any, not with the high dorsal fin anyway, or the yellow and brown.

[andywoolloo]

he is absolutely stunning whatever he is.

[Hightigh]

Thanks Andy, I think so too!

Well I have adopted him (my kids have called it a her though, Lally, so Lally she is!) she's in an 8fx2ftx2ft tank with an oscar and a tandanus. So what ever she is, I think she'll be happy!