On the difficulty of correctly identifying your Goonch. (Bagarius)
- Thread starter Chicxulub
- Start date
Thats a nice looking goonch anyone know anything about them?
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That was a very interesting and informative article, good job.
However, I did make several observations and I'm a bit curious to hear your input on them. Firstly, considering that the largest Goonches are native to the cold, fast-moving rivers on Northern India, why is it that the largest Goonch on record was caught in the Jamuna River, a large, muddy, slow-moving river that no Bagarius bagarius should be able to survive in? I also noticed something that doesn't really concern biology, but I still found it odd that the Goonches of Southern India and Southeast Asia don't have that much of a presence in the recreational or commercial fisheries of their respective ranges when they can apparently reach anywhere from 3 to 6 feet.
Anyway, we'll done again on this research, and I can't wait to read up on any more updates.
However, I did make several observations and I'm a bit curious to hear your input on them. Firstly, considering that the largest Goonches are native to the cold, fast-moving rivers on Northern India, why is it that the largest Goonch on record was caught in the Jamuna River, a large, muddy, slow-moving river that no Bagarius bagarius should be able to survive in? I also noticed something that doesn't really concern biology, but I still found it odd that the Goonches of Southern India and Southeast Asia don't have that much of a presence in the recreational or commercial fisheries of their respective ranges when they can apparently reach anywhere from 3 to 6 feet.
Anyway, we'll done again on this research, and I can't wait to read up on any more updates.
The reason that the largest fish was caught from the Jumana River is simple- under Roberts (1983), both the Indian Highland Giant (B. bagarius) and the Lowland Giant (B. yarrelli) are rolled up into the same species. Roberts erroneously failed to differentiate between the two. I personally feel that the Jumana specimen is indicative of the Lowland Giant, B. yarrelli. Without having actually seen the fish in person though, I can't prove it so I don't preach it. It is my hypothesis that both the highland and lowland giant are capable of achieving comparable huge sizes and should likely be considered equals in that regard. More time and research is needed by members of this community to determine the truth.
I also lament the lack of interest that the non-Highland Giant morphs are getting. Estarego8 and I have confirmed no less than five separate variants that are popping up in the hobby and have found proper, documented scientific evidence to support the idea that these fish are in fact separate species. I strongly suspect that if we could get more of them into the hobby, people would accept this. Even as it is, no one is really bothering to challenge this assessment.
Goonch cats are one of the more exciting frontiers of this hobby right now.
The reason that the largest fish was caught from the Jumana River is simple- under Roberts (1983), both the Indian Highland Giant (B. bagarius) and the Lowland Giant (B. yarrelli) are rolled up into the same species. Roberts erroneously failed to differentiate between the two. I personally feel that the Jumana specimen is indicative of the Lowland Giant, B. yarrelli. Without having actually seen the fish in person though, I can't prove it so I don't preach it. It is my hypothesis that both the highland and lowland giant are capable of achieving comparable huge sizes and should likely be considered equals in that regard. More time and research is needed by members of this community to determine the truth.
I also lament the lack of interest that the non-Highland Giant morphs are getting. Estarego8 and I have confirmed no less than five separate variants that are popping up in the hobby and have found proper, documented scientific evidence to support the idea that these fish are in fact separate species. I strongly suspect that if we could get more of them into the hobby, people would accept this. Even as it is, no one is really bothering to challenge this assessment.
Goonch cats are one of the more exciting frontiers of this hobby right now.
+1 I can honestly say if I had the money and funding id make this my lifes mission.
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Right rob, i feel like goonch will be the new red tail catfish within the next 10 years. Once people figure out how to farm them its over though, i really gotta get my Thai Yarelli before this happens lol.
Nobodys going to challenge your guys' thesis because it seems correct. To me and my buddys who ive shown them to at least haha. Whoever had originally thought that the highland and lowland giants were the one in the same is kind of derp. I mean, hell i can tell the difference now between the highland and lowland thanks to you guys. We need a quiz thread for practice for these harder to ID specie
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Nobodys going to challenge your guys' thesis because it seems correct. To me and my buddys who ive shown them to at least haha. Whoever had originally thought that the highland and lowland giants were the one in the same is kind of derp. I mean, hell i can tell the difference now between the highland and lowland thanks to you guys. We need a quiz thread for practice for these harder to ID specie
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Based on what we've learned in the past eight months, I'm about to embark on attempting a Goonch ID thread again soon. With Matt's success in rounding up the different varieties, this shouldn't be overly difficult this time.
I really, really, really hope that these fish don't become popular like the RTC. These fish are 'ugly' and have big scary teeth. Some morphs can live in cooler temps. These things will go the way of the snakehead so quick your head will spin.
Remember when the RTC costed hundreds? well, goonch are definitely going to be farmed its a ticking time bomb. soon African tigerfish will be available for RBP prices. Lots of fish are going to be commercially farmed and very quickly, its only a matter of time.Based on what we've learned in the past eight months, I'm about to embark on attempting a Goonch ID thread again soon. With Matt's success in rounding up the different varieties, this shouldn't be overly difficult this time.
I really, really, really hope that these fish don't become popular like the RTC. These fish are 'ugly' and have big scary teeth. Some morphs can live in cooler temps. These things will go the way of the snakehead so quick your head will spin.
