Guess what this is...the answer might suprise you

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
ichthusfish said:
Pics
Click to expand...

Allow me to remain skeptical of their "gigas-ship". http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?ID=6192&genusname=Pangasianodon&speciesname=gigas

If I read this carefully and look at the pics, I don't think these are MGCs. For one, they should have no stripes. They look very much IDS to me currently. Including the eye position, EDIT: which appears approx. the same in juvi MGC and IDS.

Dorsal spines (total): 2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7-8; Anal soft rays: 35; Vertebrae: 48. Body without stripes; posterior nostril located near anterior nostril; 7 branched dorsal-fin rays; gill rakers rudimentary or absent; fins grey, never black (Ref. 12693). The center of the eye above the horizontal line through the mouth angle in juveniles; eye totally below the level of mouth angle in subadults and adults. The maxillary and mandibulary pairs of barbels well developed in juveniles; mandibulary barbels become rudimentary in subadults and adults (Ref. 9448). Gigantic size; oral teeth and gill rakers present in small juveniles, absent at about 30-50 cm SL; dorsal, pelvic and pectoral fins without filamentous extensions (Ref. 43281). Distinguished from other large catfish in the Mekong by its lack of teeth and the almost complete absence of barbels (Ref. 2686)

My prior thread on the subject: http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/f...how-to-ID-quot-Mekong-Giant-catfish-quot-juvi

Wayne-The-Pain, Fugupuff, what's your take?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Renegade Aquatics
I figured those lines were an artifact of the flash being fired, but now I'm not so sure. Viktor your opinion carries a LOT of weight with me.

OP, can you post more pics, to include ones with no flash? If you could use a non-phone camera that would be ideal.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
 
Rob, if I understood correctly, the eye position appears approx. the same in juvi MGC and IDS. It changes dramatically later on.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Renegade Aquatics
thebiggerthebetter said:
Allow me to remain skeptical of their "gigas-ship".
If I read this carefully and look at the pics, I don't think these are MGCs. For one, they should have no stripes. They look very much IDS to me currently. Including the eye position, EDIT: which appears approx. the same in juvi MGC and IDS.
?
Click to expand...

The fish in question may not be be MGC but they do not look like the fish in the photo in post#13.
 
I wasn't even referring to the coloration,the tail fin of the fish in post 13 looks very different from the title fish.The so called stripes look more like body sheen and flashing do the movement of the fish and the camera not being able to capture them properly.Hopefully Joseph can post some better photos.
 
Thanks, Krich. I was not referring to the colors only either. Anyway, the IDS in post #13 has spent 12 years in a 4'x1'x1' tank, rescued by xApostol. It should not be used for referencing IDS looks, although IMHO it is 100% IDS and easy to see.

As for the OP fish, you saw my bit of hesitation... conveyed in asking heavy heaters to chime in. Until then, I think they are IDS. MGC is hard to get even for research institutions if I understand correctly. Yes they are farmed but it is kind of in its infancy too and from the looks of it, not very successful or something else is limiting their farming. I'd think if the farming was good, we'd have plenty already in SE Asia for sure.

The temptation to pass other Pangasiids for MGC coupled with the challenge of correct identification is, however, a driving force for "impostoring".

Fugupuff, I'd guess, would know the most of us about their availability and possibility of illegal possession.
 
That fish may have spent most of its life in a woefully inadequate tank but it has near perfect looking finnage,heck it looks like any other adult hypophthalmus lol...I can understand your waiting for the "heavy hitters" to contribute before changing your opinion and like to see what they have to say as well.That said,what's available to importers here probably pales in comparison to what smugglers and dealers in Korea and other Asian countries can procure.
 
krichardson said:
The so called stripes look more like body sheen and flashing do the movement of the fish and the camera not being able to capture them properly.
Click to expand...

This is my thoughts on the matter as well. The proportions of these fish just look off when compared to an IDS to me, though this wouldn't be the first time that I was wrong lol... Especially with pics this terrible.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom