Not a gulper catfish

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banjocat

Candiru
MFK Member
Dec 5, 2007
341
20
48
Michigan
I was at a lfs today and they had a fish that they called a gulper cat going for $14.99. I doubted it was really a gulper cat, because I've heard they go for $300 to $500. I didn't have a camera, but it was light gray, It had a long anal fin(kind of like a snakehead. I don't remember if it was attached to the tail fin), it was skinnier than the gulper cats I've seen, and it had a really narrow dorsal fin. I found some pics of gulper cats and I can see that their anal fins aren't very long.

I know that isn't much to go by, but are there any catfish that are commonly miss named gulper cats? Any sites you would recommend for identifying catfish.

It looked like an interesting catfish. I'm worried about just buying it, because it could turn out to be a species that grows too large for a 75 gal. I sure wish more pet shops listed scientific names along with the common names.

I'll see, maybe I can get a pic of it. I don't really want to take a pic in front of the owner. He probably would find that weird(think I'm from peta or something lol)

thanks
 
Thanks, looks like a very good candidate. I can't remember if I saw the black dote behind the gills. Grows to 18 in, so it wouldn't be a great choice for a 75

Happen to live near Saginaw, Michigan?
 
good ole ocean floor cenecker
 
azfishfool;1530446; said:
good ole ocean floor cenecker
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Yep ;)

Ocean Floor is in AZ btw not michigan. I think they'd be alright in a 75 for at least most of thier lives...planet catfish tends to kind of exaggerate the adult sizes of fish. I don't have any experience with them but I have a feeling 18" is probably like the world record and they probably wouldn't attain that size in your aquarium. I thought they were pretty cool, kind of a poor mans wallago attu.
 
My initial reation made me think of an Ompok with your description. Looks like I was right, if it is the fish from the link.
 
Ocean Floor is in AZ btw not michigan.
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Must be a common miss label

Ocean Floor is in AZ btw not michigan. I think they'd be alright in a 75 for at least most of thier lives...planet catfish tends to kind of exaggerate the adult sizes of fish. I don't have any experience with them but I have a feeling 18" is probably like the world record and they probably wouldn't attain that size in your aquarium. I thought they were pretty cool, kind of a poor mans wallago attu.
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I'll think about it. Forgot to mention that the ompok was only abour 4 or 5 inches. Probably would get too crowded with my senegal bichir. If they didn't get along, my only other tank is a 20 long. I would like a catfish though if I can find one that is big enough to keep with my bichir but not too large.

I looked up wallago attu. A really interesting catfish. I would hate to get bit by one though.

My initial reation made me think of an Ompok with your description. Looks like I was right, if it is the fish from the link.
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I think it is. I might have another look next week
 
cenecker;1530287; said:
Funny... theres an LFS near me selling this fish -

http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/species.php?species_id=792

As a gulper cat...for 14.99 even while it clearly is NOT. Is this the fish you saw?
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exactly what he said is my guess as well, one of the lfs around me labeled it the same thing, obviously not true. However I still bought it for 2 bucks, my guy likes to just stay below the filter, and really doesnt rest on the bottom like most cats.
 
yeah i would say mostly due to mouth shape.
 
I don't have any experience with them but I have a feeling 18" is probably like the world record and they probably wouldn't attain that size in your aquarium
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Yea, I checked out black bullheads. They said 23 inches. I don't doubt they can get that big, but I think here the dnr gives a master angler award for catching 15 inchers. Maybe they get bigger in the south, but a 23 inch bullhead would be a giant in Michigan.
 
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