Love at first Spots & Stripes

[NetsuaiAngel]

I found a trio of these at my LFS and they sold them under the S. Petricola, but the more and more research I did here - the more their body shape didn't fit.

I fell in love with these little guys that I went and bought three more from the same breeder. The LFS had another trio of S. Petricola but they looked more true to the ones photographed in the Cat-eLog. So I waited until they got three more from the same breeder I purchased my original three.

They're mostly juveniles right now - all of them about 2" long. The largest is a little over 2". They all love the high current in the tank and they're loving the open territory I've given them (just did a re-landscaping this weekend).

The previous thread about lucipinnis caught my eye, but again - when you look at the photos of these darlings they look closer to this species but still slightly different. Did I buy hybrids? If you need cleaner shots, I'll camp out in front of my tank and keep trying - they're fast lil suckers!

Your expertise would be greatly appreciated!

-Angela

[Silurus]

They are

Synodontis lucipinnis

.

[NetsuaiAngel]

Thanks Silurus!

The photos for Synodontis lucipinnis are so dramatically different in skin tone and elongation of their body. Lucipinnis photos seem to have a dark beige/brown-like undertone - even the juvenile shots show the same coloration. Mine have a dark silver/grey undertone. Does this matter or is identification based mainly on spot pattern and fin shape?

I'm not trying to be a pain in the butt... just curious on what goes through people's minds when you make an identification.

Please disregard. Barbie helped me on understanding the identification process. Thanks to both of you!

-Angela