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  L# Help! I Need To Identify This Fish!
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SubscribeHelp! I Need To Identify This Fish!
dreamweaver8891
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Big Fish
Posts: 320
Kudos: 533
Votes: 79
Registered: 25-Apr-2004
female usa
EditedEdited by dreamweaver8891
During a recent trip to my lfs, I spied this delightful little fellow..... In answer to my inquiry, I was advised that the common name for him was Blue Dolphin.... That he would grow to 6-7 inches; ate beefheart and bloodworms (although to date, had been on an exclusive diet of beefheart); and was compatible with all other fish in my aquarium (Angel, Various Neons, Various Moons, 2 Discus, Corys, etc.)... So with that assurance, I confidently purchased him for about $40.00...... However, since his arrival home I find that I know very little about him - and research online is extremely difficult due to the fact that when I google the common name of Blue Dolphin I come up with the popular Cichlid of that name.... Which this guy is definitely NOT.... Ok, so I returned to my lfs only to discover that their knowledge was limited to what I had been told previously about the diet & compatability... along with the fact that he was a nocturnal feeder.... What a quandry!
So here I am asking for your help - ANY help! You'll note that I've included a pic - but due to my lack of fish picture taking skills and the fact that he is in constant motion, I am going to also provide a written description of what I've visually observed.
First of all, although the lfs informed me that he was called a Blue Dolphin -- he kind of reminds me of a cave shark - although definitely smaller than what is shown on National Geographic AND freshwater.... His swimming is a CONSTANT undulation type -- looking more like a snake in movement rather than a fish! And when I said constant - take that literally! I have yet to see him ever motionless or for that matter even slow moving... Coloring is primarily blue and white - although my lfs stated that when he was literally handpicked by their staff they had noted other tank mates were not so blue.... His "face profile" for lack of a better word, shows what I would relate as a very weak chin - in comparison to human features...(This is kind of shown in the pic).... Although there appears to be black around his eyes - they are actually quite small.....
What worries me the most is not being able to access information about this fish - To be frank, I'm not sure about his actual sex (although am guessing male - since the lfs said there were others in his tank that were not as blue...and so I think those must have been the females..)... Since the lfs was not even able to provide the actual family of this fish, the scientific name, etc.... I'm not sure if I am even properly caring for him.... I do know that I have yet to observe him actually eating....
So if anyone of you could help me out - I would be most appreciative!
Thank you.

Attached Image:


To thine own self be true...
Post InfoPosted 11-Feb-2007 16:04Profile PM Edit Report 
zachf92
**********
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Big Fish
Posts: 343
Kudos: 255
Votes: 233
Registered: 31-Dec-2005
male usa
this is your fish- http://planetcatfish.com/catelog/species.php?species_id=339

According to the profile, your Blue Whale Catfish will eventually be incompatible with all of the fish that you stated were in your aquarium.
Post InfoPosted 11-Feb-2007 16:54Profile Homepage PM Edit Delete Report 
dreamweaver8891
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Big Fish
Posts: 320
Kudos: 533
Votes: 79
Registered: 25-Apr-2004
female usa
Thank you so much for the CORRECT information! ..... My plan is to return the now identified fish to my lfs.... I don't particular like catfish -- and besides, wanted my Discus to be the centerpiece fish..... Reading the profile via your link - length and girth of the matured fish are not what I was hoping for! ----- I'm sure this is quite an interesting fish - but again, not what I THOUGHT I was buying.....
Thank you again - Your information and assistance was quite appreciated!


To thine own self be true...
Post InfoPosted 11-Feb-2007 19:26Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
So_Very_Sneaky
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Ultimate Fish Guru
Posts: 3238
Kudos: 2272
Votes: 201
Registered: 10-Mar-2004
female canada
I think this fish will be fine with your fish,
except that once it grows large the neons may
get eaten, but then your Angel and Discus would prob do that anyway.
they are generally a shy, retiring, peaceful fish.


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Post InfoPosted 11-Feb-2007 20:34Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
longhairedgit
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Fish Guru
Lord of the Beasts
Posts: 2502
Kudos: 1778
Votes: 29
Registered: 21-Aug-2005
male uk
EditedEdited by longhairedgit
I dont think you can guarantee this wont kill other fish, some specimens may be peaceful but technically it is one of the larger species of candiru, and it will be , throughout its life capable of tearing chunks out of larger fish, they have been known to attach themselves to and take pieces out of larger catfish. Im not sure id risk this fish in any community setting. It has the potential to damage almost any fish its housed with. Even an adult discus might just be a fat defenseless target for one in a predatory mood.

Check this out

http://www.scotcat.com/factsheets/cetopsis_coecutiens.htm
Post InfoPosted 16-Feb-2007 08:16Profile MSN PM Edit Delete Report 
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