Lake Tanganyika dwarf Clarias sp. PIC added

[worton[pl]]

Hey,

Okay this will be a little tricky to explain but since 26.04.2008 I just cannot take it out of my head.

This beautiful Saturday I've met Evert van Ammelrooy and his friends (he gave a lecture for our Tanganyka Geeks Club in Krakow).
It was really great. Lot's of great photos of Cichlids (some really, really rare) and a part of lecture (about 30 minutes) was about catfishes and other non-cichlids - mostly Mastacembelidae and shrimps. There was a photo of 10 cm long Clarias species. Yeah, I know there is no so small Clarias and for sure not in The Lake. Those in lake grow huge and live deep. This one was so small and was found only on 10m deep.
In the evening I've met with Evert and his friends on not official after party ;) and I got a possibility to talk about this dwarf Clarias.
He ensured me few times this fish were mature and full-grown. He saw a group about 20 of the same size feeding on dead fish. Location: Funda, Zambia.

There aren't a lot of papers about Clariidae and if there are I cannot get them. Again there is almost no data about Lake Tanganyika Clarias species beside they grow big and live deep. I am very exited about this and just wanted to share. What do you think?
I know that seeing a group of this fish is not so strong argument. We all know behaviours of fish my change with age. On the other hand after few years in a hobby you know if fish is mature or not even if it is not full-grown because of some sickness or wrong habitat in early stages of life. And you have to remember that Tanganyika is very special lake with a lot of dwarven forms of fish .
I got this photo but I cannot share it with you guys :/, I will try to change Evert's mind .

Regards.

[I_Xeno]

Sounds great, something alse than synodontis or P.typus

[Birger]

I am very exited about this and just wanted to share. What do you think?

From this lake it would not surprise me, keep digging for information and keep us posted...good luck

Birger

[Richard B]

Hmmm - very interesting - keep us posted

bennyvis - what about lophio's? or the many other non-syno cats in the lake?

[worton[pl]]

Hey,

okay here is picture



I'm still drooling :] even after watching it 1000 times .

[I_Xeno]

I agree, that would be a very nice catfish for my Tanganyika thanks

[Richard B]

The fact that it is a dwarf species makes it appealing indeed.

[Birger]

Thanks worton for bringing this to our attention, thats very interesting

Birger

[Silurus]

I am aware of an undescribed species of Tanganikallabes from the Zambian side of the lake. Maybe this is it.

[worton[pl]]

Hey,

I've ordered this fish . Nothing for sure but Michelle Buckland will look for them. Hopefully we will be able to see more better pictures chances are very low probably but still I'm even more excited .

Silurus do you have any more information about this species? It is first time I hear about Tanganikallabes - new genus in Clariidae?
Or just a name used to say that it is from Clariidae and from Tanganyika?

Regards.

[Jools]

do you have any more information about this species?

http://www.fishbase.org/summary/Species ... hp?id=9471 - New one on me too - What they heck - I've added it to the catelog too -

Tanganikallabes mortiauxi

.

It appears this species is from Burundi - presumably Silurus means there is a potentially second species being examined.

The specific name is interesting too - is it named for someone called Mortiaux (seems plausible as it's French sounding) or is it something to do with death and the fact the fish is a carrion feeder?

Jools

[worton[pl]]

Hey,

http://www.fishbase.org/summary/Species ... hp?id=9471 - New one on me too - What they heck - I've added it to the catelog too.

It appears this species is from Burundi - presumably Silurus means there is a potentially second species being examined.

I just love this site. Thank you very much Jools! Are you interested in putting this picture is cat-elog? We can temporary name it as Tanganikallabes sp. I guess . On my hdd I have a little bit better quality picture

[I_Xeno]

33cm, is stil very big

[worton[pl]]

Hey,

33cm, is stil very big

Suitable for avarage size tank . 500l should be enough for a nice group.

And species on photo above was not bigger than 10cm tl .

[racoll]

The specific name is interesting too - is it named for someone called Mortiaux (seems plausible as it's French sounding) or is it something to do with death and the fact the fish is a carrion feeder?

Ending with an "i", it will be a patronym - named after a Mr Mortiaux.

[Jools]

I know, I wrote that post half way through my first cup of coffee of today (still half asleep after my first long lie in months - no builders here today, yay!) and also noticed Silurus mentioned Zambian side of the lake.

So, a second smaller species may well be on the cards.

Jools

[Richard B]

It'll be interesting to see if Worton can obtain these & get us some good photos from different views for us to chew over. I hope he does!

[Carp37]

If they really do stay in the 4-6" bracket they'd be a great aquarium fish- I've always liked clareid cats but most get WAY too large and nasty for me to even consider. Looking forward to photos if you manage to get any Worton...