Identification Required Please

[SB83]

Hi,

I've recently joined the forum in search of some help identifying two fish - been told they are catfish. Names (so i can look up on net) and/or any other information would be great!!

Photos attached as PDFs.

Many thanks!

[sheamurai]

Ah, those are the same fish as the other post.
One is a catfish, Two a pleco.

Hopefully someone else can be more specific for you.

[SB83]

many thanks!

apologies for the double post....not quite sure what i'm doing!!!

[gm72]

The first one looks like an asian upside-down cat. If it is you need to return it or get a much larger tank. A single specimen would need at least a 55 gallon tank but preferably more like a 75 gallon.

The second looks like a common pleco. Again, you either would need to return it or get a much larger tank. They should never be kept in a tank less than 55 gallons.

You have a huge amount of algae in the tank. Ideally you should have none. How often do you perform water changes and what are your water parameters?

[SB83]

The tank is currently with its previous owner - i brought it today and collecting on saturday (hopefully it will be clean by then!).

The tank is 260 ltrs - so your recommendation on tank size should be ok.

We currently have danios, tetras, a golden catfish and a loach (dont know exact species - not a weather loach though :) We don't want to put our fish in any harm!! If we decide to keep the new catfish, could they harm our current fish??

[sheamurai]

They just bought that tank today, as is, gm72...stated in their intro thread...

[gm72]

If I'm right about it being an asian upside-down cat then it will eat the smaller fish once it gets big enough.

[SB83]

Ok, Hmmmmmmm.....I think i shall be visiting my local fish tank
A. With the photos.
B. See what they recommend.

You say that when they get big enough they will probably eat the smaller ones....the current owner said one of the two fish was 25cm already!! Thats pretty big already isn't it!!

[gm72]

Yes it is. At that size it has to be an asian upside-down cat. It will eat anything it can get into its mouth in my experience. I have two, one about 10" and the other about 12" in a 220 gallon tank. Used to have a school of 12 giant danios and they ate all but one.

[toddnbecka]

Catfish in the first pic looks too brown to be an Asian upside-down cat, they're black with a few gold or silver spots on the sides. Synodontis cats may eat smaller fish, but they aren't actually predatory.
The common pleco in the second pic actually needs a much larger tank.