Platysilurus mucosus ID?

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Neighlass

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jan 30, 2025
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Hi there,

I've been offered this little chap as a porthole shovelhead catfish however after a bit of Google image searching I think it's a platysilurus mucosus? I just wondered if I could get your expert opinion please? :)

I'm in the UK, are they rare over here? Can't say I've seen any I'm my lfs 🤔

Thanks
 

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I have a small porthole cat and mucosus. Looks like a mucosus catfish to me. Think just whited out bc of the sand.
 
I have a small porthole cat and mucosus. Looks like a mucosus catfish to me. Think just whited out bc of the sand.
Thanks. There isn't a huge amount on the net about them it seems (some but not lots). Do you have any pictures of yours? 😊
 
I agree with kno4te on Platysilurus; usually "porthole shovelnose catfish" is used for Hemisorubim (which looks similar enough, but with a markedly different pattern and facial structure, amongst other things).
Not a common catfish overall; they're decently rare and very nice fishtank inhabitants due to their smaller adult size. The filaments and elongate barbels are quite pretty in mature fish; almost reminiscent of a juvenile Brachyplatystoma.
 
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Well done finding that here in the uk Emma. Yes it is indeed P. mucosus. The link below might help. https://www.planetcatfish.com/platysilurus#1641
Not a particularly needy catfish in its requirements providing you get it to eat. Its whiskers are long so it appreciates a bit of space , but it’s not a large growing fish so a typical uk living room fitting sized tank will keep it for life.
 
Hello, let me show you my fish. It's the same species as yours. It's also very rare in our area, so many people don't know its scientific name. But now I know, it's Platysilurus Mucousus. The red sand in the photo was taken not long after I got it. Now I've been keeping it for over a year. It has grown a bit and occasionally eats the small fish I keep with it. How's your fish now
--Fish enthusiast from Urumqi, China
5a7ba2a427d01f7ecc37300238fbcfcb.jpg6150ee2d7481965f6f14da4f5edef30f.jpg2ea1790e77c1c28859ee264fc7dafa51.jpg
 
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