Megalodoras uranoscopus juvenile coloring?

[ErsatzEel]

I purchased two catfish online that were supposed to be megalodoras uranoscopus. When they arrived I thought they were orinocodoras eigenmanni, but the seller says that juvenile megalodoras uranoscopus normally look like that.

I've never seen megalodoras with stripes, and the adipose fins look kind of large to me, so I came here for a second opinion.

 

[fishnatics]

Looks normal to me.That's the juvie color. It'll change to a brownish color.

 

[ErsatzEel]

They also seem to have 28 lateral scutes, does that change when they get older?

 

[Samaka]

Nice looking Megalodoras uranoscopus, would like to feet a couple myself. What website did you use to order them, btw?

 

[Malte81]

Maybe i am wrong but it looks like a normal striped raphael catfish.
My irwinis looked different when i got them .
They have more a marbled pattern and no stripe.

 

[krichardson]

Maybe i am wrong but it looks like a normal striped raphael catfish.
My irwinis looked different when i got them .
They have more a marbled pattern and no stripe.

Agreed,it does not look like a Megaladoras to me.

 

[koltsixx]

Gotta side with those who are saying not Mega. Juvenile coloration is the same as adult in my experience
here's a pic of a 2 inch Mega I had awhile ago

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

By no means whatsoever these are irwini. The seller is quite wrong and, sadly, persists in their wrongness. It's a lesson for all of us to make sure of the ID before buying.

I know big Doradidae a bit but IDK small raphs too well. Looks to me you've been indeed handed striped raphs.

 

[ErsatzEel]

I figured they weren't Megalodoras, still kind of disappointed though.

The shape of the head cap, number of lateral scutes, scales on top of the caudal peduncle, and shape of the adipose fin point to Orinocodoras, but I guess I wanted to believe the seller that it was just geographic variation.

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

I sympathize, bud. Throughout many years I have seen and owned many irwinis, big and small. They all look close to what Kolt's posted.

Sellers make honest mistakes. I hope it was one. Have you given up disputing it? On-line sellers treasure their reputation and aim to please.