From the picture the fish could either be 500 or 550 MM, depending on what size you assume the person is. I haven't seen any annotation, but since this was obtained during field work, that picture 'probably' has the specimen number on the back (or at the edge.) I haven't done field work, but it's certain these folks were actively documenting their specimens.
I'm quite excited about the possibility of getting this fish. Do you have the book I mentioned? Here are some quotes that interested me years ago.
"Most sierra's live in soft-bottom environments, with either muddy or sandy bases, that they vacuum up to extract whatever food is trapped within. Coarser gravel substrates are too difficult for most of the smaller individuals to take into their buccal cavity, so they are unable to feed normally. Thus, sierras are more properly placed in aquaria (either community of separate) that are fitted with fine sand substrates. Sierras also differ from raphaels by the manner in which they avoid light. In nature, raphaels hide in rockwork, crevices or hollowed-out logs during the daylight. Sierras, on the other hand, descend into deeper pools in rivers, avoiding the lighted shorelines, and migrate into shallower areas at night to feed." (page 119-120, Catfish in the Aquarium, Ferraris, 1991, Tetra Press.)
"Finally, unlike raphaels, sierras are gregarious catfishes. In several places in Venezuela, I have observed aggregations of literally hundreds of them feeding together along sandy beaches after dark." (same reference, page 120.)
He mentions as well, (paraphrasing): they appear to be very friendly with other doradids, will consume prepared food if it reaches the bottom, and can be kept in communities with all but the smallest fish (e.g., tetras, rasboras), provided there is shelter.
I'm quite excited about the possibility of getting this fish. Do you have the book I mentioned? Here are some quotes that interested me years ago.
"Most sierra's live in soft-bottom environments, with either muddy or sandy bases, that they vacuum up to extract whatever food is trapped within. Coarser gravel substrates are too difficult for most of the smaller individuals to take into their buccal cavity, so they are unable to feed normally. Thus, sierras are more properly placed in aquaria (either community of separate) that are fitted with fine sand substrates. Sierras also differ from raphaels by the manner in which they avoid light. In nature, raphaels hide in rockwork, crevices or hollowed-out logs during the daylight. Sierras, on the other hand, descend into deeper pools in rivers, avoiding the lighted shorelines, and migrate into shallower areas at night to feed." (page 119-120, Catfish in the Aquarium, Ferraris, 1991, Tetra Press.)
"Finally, unlike raphaels, sierras are gregarious catfishes. In several places in Venezuela, I have observed aggregations of literally hundreds of them feeding together along sandy beaches after dark." (same reference, page 120.)
He mentions as well, (paraphrasing): they appear to be very friendly with other doradids, will consume prepared food if it reaches the bottom, and can be kept in communities with all but the smallest fish (e.g., tetras, rasboras), provided there is shelter.
