Attempting to id a Chinese “wels”

[Jd72]

I’m about to purchase a golden “wels” catfish but the current owner is unsure on it’s particular species at first I thought it was s. meridionalis but now I’m unsure does anyone have any ways of correctly identifying them so I know whether I’m going to end up with a 3ft or a 10ft fish eventually

 

[wednesday13]

You need a clear shot of the whiskers/barbels if ur asking if it is a “chinese” (s. Mereridionalis or s. Asotus) or a “euro” (s. Glanis)… both the “chinese” types commonly sold will have 4 whiskers…. The euro will have 6, 2 on top, 4 under the chin. I cant tell from the 1st pic if theres a reflection or not doubling one of the whiskers.

 

[Jd72]

Okay that’s helpful to know I wasn’t sure If there was a more definitive way of identifying them I’ll have to see if I can get some more photos of the barbels as like you say it’s very hard to tell If it’s a reflection or just an extra set

 

[Jd72]

I’d be inclined to say it’s probably a euro looking at the photos I’ve just been sent then which is a shame as I’m not sure how I’d fair trying to keep an adult euro wels into adulthood in an indoor pond

 

[wednesday13]

Was leaning that way before the update… def. Confirmed now … S. Glanis 100%… ive owned both glanis and asotus… my glanis hit 52” in 7yrs before my state took it … that was from 5” also. One pictured is prob a year old already. There actually pretty mild tempered and dont grow very quickly. How big is ur pond?

 

[Jd72]

It’s a 7.5ft x 4.5ft so quite large but I’m not quite sure how long I’d be able to house a glanis is my worry. I’d read about what happened with yours that’s a real shame man they’re beautiful fish some of the ways they enforce these laws around fish are definitely too much imo