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I got some little catfish. They are pretty small, cory size.

(these pictures taken by me)

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/5875/dsc00257tu2.jpg

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/5888/dsc00259zj6.jpg

they look like they could possilbly be a loach of some sort...

soryy i couldnt be much help, but they sure are beuties...

\\\\\\\"an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the cure\\\\\\\"

O no, they definitely are catfish. The guy at the store said they were brand new to the hobby. I paid $15 each for 2, so $30 total. They are very active, they seem to be social to me. The guy had 1 more at the store, I might possibly go get the last one tomorrow. I could probably find out the name then, but if any one could tell me tonight so I could find more info about them, that would be great.

For 15$ they should come with a ID.
Try http://www.plecofanatics.com/.
Good luck!

For 15$ they should come with a ID.
Try http://www.plecofanatics.com/.
Good luck!

maybe some type of synodontis?

actually it looks to me like it could be Scleromystax macropterus

take a look around the Callichthyidae section to see if anything else looks close

It is definitely not a cory. If you look at the 2nd pic, he has got some kind of wisker/feeler things that are unique to regular catfish. Also it's a long slendor body like non cory type catfish.

If I had to guess, I'd say Synodontis decorus.

Joe's got a good guess, I went through all the Syno's at PlanetCatfish and Decorus matches to a T. Really attractive fish. However, watch out as they will reach about 10".

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The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.

My guess is also with Joe.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Yeah I think you may be right. They get to be 10"? That too big for a 90 gallon tank?

10" ? idkbout the tank size on that one. but i diffently agree its some kind of syndnotis. look beautiful by the way

The true test of character is not how much we know how to do, but how we behave when we dont know what to do.

Yes, you've got got 2 Synodontis decorus.
IMO a 90gallon will be fine as they are fairly inactive until after dark, and will be more interested in eating and sleeping than swimming madly around the tank

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Billy was a scientist, Billy is no more. For what he thought was H20, was H2SO4

Just checking since I wasn't sure about your tank size. A 90 gallon will probably be appropriate. Might be a bit of a coincidence, but just today I saw one of these for the first time in person and had to pick it up.

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The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.

I have been looking into the identification of this species as I recently purchased a similar-looking fish myself, and apparently it is problematic due to hybrids with S. multipunctatus or a similar fish. For a sure identification, check of the maxillary barbels; if they have tiny filaments on them, then you have S. decorus. It is not a trait easily seen in very small fish, though. Still, your fish do look much like S. decorus.

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The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.

Another way to check if you have true Synodontis decorus is this: as they grow older, the first dorsal ray extends into a curious worm-like filament. My Braz Walker pocket book has a nice picture of this feature on an adult specimen.

Also, they are likely to be, how shall I put this, "boisterously playful" with each other as they grow up. Nothing too alarming, but they are very definitely on the active and exuberant side personality wise. You won't get bored with them that's for sure! However, exercise a lot of care about mixing them with some other Synos. In particular, AVOID mixing them with Synodontis notatus, Synodontis schal or the juggernaut predator Synodontis acanthomias. It might be a good idea to avoid mixing them with Synodontis angelicus and Synodontis nigromaculatus, as both of these will compete vigorously for territory with the decorus.

In any case, the sheer size of Synodontis acanthomias should be enough to warn you off - Planet Catfish lists it as a half-metre long fish when fully grown, and some authorities claim 24 inches or 61 cm as the upper limit for this species, which means it would outgrow your 90 in short order and also grow big enough to snack upon your decorus even when they were decent sized adults!

Oh, and the second of those photos you took really shows what a lovely fish Synodontis decorus is - lives up to its name!


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

not a loach, definetly cat fish, but like the last reply thats all i can say and they are very pretty, when you find out let me know i want some of my own!

i like feesh

Mochokids tend to be most intolerant of similarly sized con specifics, thus, the oddly shaped decorus should not have too many issues being housed with larger and smaller higher bodied species. They are a reasonably tough fish themselves. Also, this is s. decorus. you can see the feathering of the maxis.