Pimelodus sp. ID, Xenentodon hlth.    2/8/10
Hi-
I have written to you a couple of times before. You are always a great help, and I thank you for that. Today, I was in our "fish store."
Actually, a lawn and garden store, but other than Wal-Mart, that is the only place to obtain fish within two hours of our home. They had an unidentified fish in the tank with their Pimelodus pictus. (They had no idea what it was either.) This fish looked similar to a Pimelodus blochii, except that, while the markings were similar, they were very clear dots, instead of lines. However, the body style was very similar to the Pimelodus blochii that I have seen. I tried to get a picture of him on my cell phone, but he was nervous, and wouldn't hold still. I looked on Planet Catfish, but I didn't find anything that was an exact match to him.
However, I did notice that under the identification of Pimelodus blochii, they mention that many color variations exist,
<Yes>
and that other color variations may be separate species, or subspecies.
<This is so as well>
Do you believe that this fish is a subspecies of the Pimelodus blochii, or is there another species that sounds more correct to you?
<Can't tell from here>
I also thought that maybe this fish was some sort of hybrid.
<There are such hybrids (human made) in the family Pimelodidae, but as far as I'm aware, these are restricted to more expensive, much larger species.
"Pictus" cats are all wild-collected thus far>
I know it is at least very difficult, if not impossible to ID a fish without a picture, I just wondered if you knew of anything off the top of your head.
Also, I had a question about one of our Needlefish. (Xenentodon cancila) We have two, and we are going to add a third, once we can find a suitably healthy, similarly sized individual. Ours are doing fantastic, they are completely weaned onto frozen foods and eat very well.
<Ah, good>
We feed a large variety of frozen foods, and also supplement with crickets approximately weekly. There is no ammonia or nitrite, and nitrate stays below 20.
<I'd try to keep NO3 even lower>
We do weekly water changes. However, I have noticed that the first, slightly smaller Needlefish has a slightly downwards curved back. He seems to be able to straighten it out, as I have seen him do it. Most of the time however, he keeps it somewhat curved. It isn't very extreme, in fact, I probably wouldn't have thought anything of it if we didn't have the other one with the completely straight back. In every other way, he seems very healthy, and his back doesn't seem to bother him. I am just worried that it may be a spinal problem or some sort of malnutrition problem. Thank-you for all of your help.
-Lindsay-
<Again, I cannot determine much from what is presented. I have seen specimens that had the apparent deformation you describe and have wondered at times if this was due to being in too small confines; but nutrition, even psychological matters may be at play here. Thank you for your well written query, input. Bob Fenner>

Unable to identify fish.   1/4/09 Hello Crew, First of all let me say thank you to all of you who have answered my questions in the past all information has been very useful. But on to the problem at hand, my friend has a fish that I keep trying to identify. So far I have tried to search the web and a lot of other sites without success. Sadly I do not have a picture of the fish only a description. I have seen a picture of a red tailed catfish and it looks a lot like that. There are a few differences though, its nose is a lot longer and flatter. It is also white with a lot of dark spots, and she found out the hard way that it eats other fish. It pretty much decimated the fish population of her tank, consuming two of what she called a Florida knife fish which is about twice as longer as it was. It also has a long body of a fish, the best i can say is that it reminds me of a alligator or crocodile in fish form. Do you guys have any idea of what it could be, we really want to put a name to this terror but can't. Oh, almost forgot it is in a freshwater tank that is heated and is about 5-6 inches long and thin. Well thanks for all of your help and I hope you may be able to give it a name for us. <Likely a Pimelodid... my guess is on Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum... read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/pimelodids.htm Bob Fenner>

Re: Unable to identify fish. 1/4/08 "<Likely a Pimelodid... my guess is on Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum... read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/pimelodids.htm Bob Fenner>" Hello Again, I have identified the " unidentified fish", or so i believe. I think it is a tiger catfish thanks so much. <Ahh, welcome. BobF>

Pimelodid Cats One other question and I promise I leave you in peace.. What's a pimellid catfish?? I have two pictus catfish (dot and spot) that I've had for over a year <that's them... Pimelodus pictus (the scientific name)> and they are about 3-4 in the white fin shark I've had a little longer than the two pictus catfish and he is about 6 in in length.. Just curious.. The pictus I did research and read they would get up to 5-6 in. They love blood worms and strangely enough love the Plecos algae tablets.. <and they will eat small live fish, including goldfish when the cats are big enough!> All of the fish I have now, I've had for 8 mo.s to a year and a half except the barbs and the Severum.. I may end up having to give my Severum to a friend of mine that has a 55 gal cichlid tank if he starts getting too big.. <best of luck, Anthony>