giraffe catfish, Auchenoglanis occidentalis
- Thread starter jjollie
- Start date
There are complications with this fish' ID.
Taxonomy is undecided on these - two most recent revisions contradict each other per this thread http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=39318
There are several species out there and a couple of them stay smallish (~1') and grow slow - I am told these are Auchenoglanis senegali (see an example here http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=42444 ) and Auchenoglanis cf. occidentalis from Volta river, Ghana.
AFAIK, others grow fast, ~1.5' to even 2' in one year. Auchenoglanis cf. occidentalis "bouche" appears to grow a bit slower and is referred to as a dwarf but I am told they are not and will break 2'.
I've just bought a couple 10"-ers, so maybe I will have some first hand experience with the "bouche".
Yellowcat
says his was rather fast growing per this thread http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=42531 Mark Smith says his is stuck at one foot per this http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=32248
I've had about 4-5 of g-cats over the years and 2 definitely have not grown much in over a year, stayed at ~3"-4". Others grew fast indeed, from 2" to 5" in 1-2 months. They were too confident and got picked off by my arowanas. My bad.
Taxonomy is undecided on these - two most recent revisions contradict each other per this thread http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=39318
There are several species out there and a couple of them stay smallish (~1') and grow slow - I am told these are Auchenoglanis senegali (see an example here http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=42444 ) and Auchenoglanis cf. occidentalis from Volta river, Ghana.
AFAIK, others grow fast, ~1.5' to even 2' in one year. Auchenoglanis cf. occidentalis "bouche" appears to grow a bit slower and is referred to as a dwarf but I am told they are not and will break 2'.
I've just bought a couple 10"-ers, so maybe I will have some first hand experience with the "bouche".
Yellowcat
says his was rather fast growing per this thread http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=42531 Mark Smith says his is stuck at one foot per this http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=32248I've had about 4-5 of g-cats over the years and 2 definitely have not grown much in over a year, stayed at ~3"-4". Others grew fast indeed, from 2" to 5" in 1-2 months. They were too confident and got picked off by my arowanas. My bad.
I thought they were usually a bit too zealous and enthusiastic at the feeding time, is all. Plowing through everyone to get to food. But I've heard of 1-2 cases of territorial or what not problems.
What was the bossyness you observed?
What was the bossyness you observed?
I bought this guy as an occidentalis 3 years ago and it is only 10-11". No longer sure what it is. Doesn't mind light too much so I don't care.
That's a striking looking g-cat, Rodger! Would you mind posting the pic on PlanetCatfish for an ID, if you will? Or with your permission, I could do it.
I have the pics of only small ones and even then you have to look for them hard in some pics 
The darker one is the one that has not grown much at all in 1.5 years. The lighter colored one grew fast.
The darker one is the one that has not grown much at all in 1.5 years. The lighter colored one grew fast. No biting just physical pushing. He would go side by side with the larger Niger and bump her repeatly. Very cool cat. I was attempting to buy another one but discovered it was a smaller species so passed.
I have the pics of only small ones and even then you have to look for them hard in some pics
The lighter colored one grew fast.
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What is that yellow-white catfish in the 5th pic?