It was probably just the flash or light effect that made it look like a plat. Now I see that it's just a washed out sene. The glass and lights will make a washed out bichir look plat when you take some pics. Try to add some darker substrates.
I agree with everyone, the way you can tell is that the body has a pinkish, off white color to it, and see that white stripe along the jaw line? That's the dead give away.
A plat sen will besolid white, same color of that chin stripe if not brighter.