Pim ID

[RaYne]

I believe T posted this for me before.. Since you got the new boards I can't find the old post. Previouly I think T said that you peeps thought my fish was Pim Clarias. It was sold to me as a 4-line, Pim Blochii. But is missing the spots. I've brightened the pic since for some reason my camera made him look like he had a gold tint. Which he doesn't.

I'm getting conflicting opinions. I've been told it could be Iheringichthys sp.(1), the Luciopimelodus pati, Pimelodus albicans (hard to tell from the pic), Pim. Clarias, and Pinirampus pirinampu. Or possibly a species of Bagrid. I've looked through planetcatfish and I haven't found anything that looks exactly like it.. a few close ones..

It's currently about 7 inches. I bought it when it was about an inch and a half.. And I've had it about a year.



Excuse my ugly gravel. LOL!
The pic was taken November 21 2002

[Silurus]

Your fish may indeed be what is currently identified as <i>P. clarias</i> in the aquarium trade...but, it may also be the true <i>P. blochii</i> as the most recent literature I have seen seems to indicate that <i>P. blochii</i> is a plain-colored species lacking the spots/stripes usually attributed to members of this species identifed as such in the aquarium trade.
Let me check out the original description of <i>P. blochii</i> tomorrow before giving you a more definite answer. I would most probably go with <i>P. blochii</i> for now.

[PeacockBass]

my P. blochii looks exactly like that.

[Silurus]

Checked the original description of <i>P. blochii</i> and it is about as close to your fish as I can get. The description did say that there was a pale band on the upper part of the body, but this was based on a preserved specimen so it may have been an artefact.
The problem with the <i>P. blochii</i>/<i>P. maculatus</i> group is that there is a whole bunch of species inside, and identifying them isn't easy.