How to ID my catfish?

Allivymar · Post by **Allivymar** » 12 May 2003, 02:16

Hi folks.

New to the forum and have a question:

How does one tell the difference between a Hypostomus plecostomus and a Liposarcus pardalis? I've seen pictures of both, and it *seems* the lipo has a few ventral ridges; other then that I can't tell the difference.

The reason I ask is I have what I *thought* was a Hypostomus plecostomus, but after reading this post: http://forum.planetcatfish.com/viewtopic.php?t=808 (Hypostomus Plecostomus) and looking at the accompanying pics, I'm no longer sure.

Heres a pic; sorry for the quality, but he wasn't interested in posing and I had to squeeze the camera between the wall and the tank to get it LOL:

http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auc ... 488925.jpg

Post by **Silurus** » 12 May 2003, 02:19

The easisest way to tell would be to count the number of dorsal-fin rays: Hypostomus has about 7-8 while Liposarcus has 13-14.
From the pic, I'd say your fish was a Liposarcus.

Allivymar · Post by **Allivymar** » 12 May 2003, 02:25

Jeez. The difference is that simple? I was all over the place looking for that specific bit of info! Some people look for love in all the wrong places; in my case apparently its not love - its fish info LOL

Course, he is completely uninterested in spreading that dorsal fin for me atm. Least I know what to look for now when he does; thanx!