Massive Pimelodus blochii

[jclyde13]

Just bought this little guy from my LFS. Whether or not I'll be able to keep him has yet to be seen (according to an employee at the store, he doesn't have a great track record), but for only $20, I couldn't resist at least giving it a shot.

Sorry about the picture quality, I was in auto mode.

 

[jay_leask]

cool looking cat

 

[jclyde13]

Actually, now I'm thinking it might be P. maculatus (if it is, then it really is ]v[onster for its species!).

 

[jclyde13]

cool looking cat

Thanks.

 

[aquaman45]

More likely Albofasciatus. Maculata is sedom seen and when it is it has much larger spotting and the fish is a red\brown colour.
10" is the norm for both Blochi and Albofasciatus.
Nice cat!

 

[jclyde13]

According to PC, P. albofasciatus only reach 6" (not that PC has the most accurate info anyway, but still...).

 

[jclyde13]

I'm pretty sure it is P. maculatus. I checked the reciept, and they even had it ID'd as P. maculatus (there was no label on the tank it was in, since they got it as a trade-in).


And it's funny you should say P. maculatus has larger spotting, because judging by the pics on PC, P. maculatus has spotting that is basically the same as this, while P. albofasciatus has significantly larger spots...

P. albofasciatus:
http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/image.php?species=pimelodus+albofasciatus&image_id=388

P. maculatus:
http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/image.php?species=pimelodus+maculatus&image_id=3405

 

[Jmart159]

Looks great. Nice find.

 

[jclyde13]

^Thanks.


Sent from my iPod touch using MonsterAquariaNetwork app

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

It is a great find indeed.

I don't think it is either of the proposed IDs - both the albo and the maculatus have larger spots than this fish does, age-independent. It may be a mature blochii - not many are seen around. It can be some other Pimelodid. Moreover, this genus is far from having been described entirely and a lot (possibly half) of the species in that genus are still unknown to taxonomy. As for the max sizes: this info evolves just like any other. More reliable reports come in - the size will be updated.

If you'd like experts/ichthyologists to try ID your fish, post on PCF.