Learius pictus grow out, as she keeps growing.

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Rpul

Giant Snakehead
MFK Member
Sep 2, 2016
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I don't know how to explain the size on this fish. Other then she's huge.

Maybe, just maybe I have an unique specimen that has some sort of growth issue, or the information we know about there size has always been wrong? Who knows.

As stated on many online forums and pages there max size is roughly 28" for a female and around 24" for a male. (From what I've read.)

My female I've had for around 18 months now. I found her listed online, as she's out grown her aquarium for a reasonable price. It was a no brainer, so to speak on purchasing her.

I remember seeing what an impressive fish she was when I turned up. It was great to see she'd come from a knowlageble guy aswell.

She was roughly 34" when I collected her.

Now, let's fast forward to this current day.

18th July 2018.

She's now I'd say well over 36", properly more like 37".( I will at some point measure her when she's still and confirm it.)
Since going in a larger pond. (10 x 5 x 3) she's has mainly bulked out a huge amount on her depth and girth. As an angler, I'd suggest the fish is around 20-22lb in weight. I like to say she's bigger, but I won't do the fisherman's tale on you guys.

I'll add some current pictures of her now and dig the older photos when she arrived back the other year, you can clearly see her growth.

For sure, one of my most impressive specimens out of my collection and such a great character for a fish. I'd hugely recommend one, providing you have the space.

I keep the water level on the pond at 32" roughly. So you can see her size when she comes up vertical. There's also a picture of her next to a full grown oscar for size scale.

IMG_7335.JPG IMG_7336.JPG
 
I don't know how to explain the size on this fish. Other then she's huge.

Maybe, just maybe I have an unique specimen that has some sort of growth issue, or the information we know about there size has always been wrong? Who knows.

As stated on many online forums and pages there max size is roughly 28" for a female and around 24" for a male. (From what I've read.)

My female I've had for around 18 months now. I found her listed online, as she's out grown her aquarium for a reasonable price. It was a no brainer, so to speak on purchasing her.

I remember seeing what an impressive fish she was when I turned up. It was great to see she'd come from a knowlageble guy aswell.

She was roughly 34" when I collected her.

Now, let's fast forward to this current day.

18th July 2018.

She's now I'd say well over 36", properly more like 37".( I will at some point measure her when she's still and confirm it.)
Since going in a larger pond. (10 x 5 x 3) she's has mainly bulked out a huge amount on her depth and girth. As an angler, I'd suggest the fish is around 20-22lb in weight. I like to say she's bigger, but I won't do the fisherman's tale on you guys.

I'll add some current pictures of her now and dig the older photos when she arrived back the other year, you can clearly see her growth.

For sure, one of my most impressive specimens out of my collection and such a great character for a fish. I'd hugely recommend one, providing you have the space.

I keep the water level on the pond at 32" roughly. So you can see her size when she comes up vertical. There's also a picture of her next to a full grown oscar for size scale.

View attachment 1325318 View attachment 1325319


She's growing because of you with the great care and proper housing.
 
What if it's a new subspecies or a certain variant, could be
There always could be that possibility. I've had it with a few fish over the years. I'm adiment the Oxydoras nigers I have are different. Once they go back behind glass. I'll bring this to everyone's attention.
I also had a bacu with a round tale, unfortunately I lost him when I lost a few due to a colormauirs outbreak after rescuing the largest Nigercatfish.

I know where the l.pictus came from, off a Peru shipment from wharf aquatics around 5 years back now. Very small when they came in, around 4" which is very uncommon. There's another one from the batch of 5 that came in around the same size. But, I can't see any physical differences apart from mines very dark, almost black. But that could
Just be down to water, as I always keep tannings in the pond.
 
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