synodontis Granulosa

[RDH]

Went to look at some youngsters recently,approx 6cm long, however I did not purchase one as had concerns about their parentage, spots and head shape did not look right (to my untrained eye) at all.

They were pretty fish but obviously not what I want, and not a risk I am willing to take.

I just wondered if anyone had seen any youngsters that look ok?, or is it as I suspect that I will have to buy a wild caught fish to be absolutely sure.

I know there have been plenty of hybrid threads,but have to say how depressing it all is, and how paranoid I am about purchasing a fish I have wanted for 25 years.

Rich

[Richard B]

See the pics in catelog for genuine captive bred tiny granulosa - fish labelled f1 (as in my avatar).

Small fish do have fine spots which fade. Currently AFAIK only Neil Hardy aquatics have successfully bred these & supplied to the trade but young are still expensive. If you post a pic here we will tell you if they're genuine or not

[RDH]

Thanks for the reply, I had the pics on my phone to compare- specifically the pics of your youngsters. The one from above which shows the head in relation to the body was really useful as your fish is in proportion (hope this makes sense), the ones in the shop appeared to have a head which did tot fit with the rest of the fish i.e too small and the wrong shape.

Of course it could just be my paranoia...

Did not take any photos (should have done I guess)

Rich

[Richard B]

You could ask the seller to text you a phone pic. Alternatively ask if they were supplied to the seller by Neil Hardy? Genuine ones are still expensive & if they appear to good to be true price wise, they probably are not genuine

Small looking head shape is a known indication of a number of hybrids

[MatsP]

"expensive" in the above post means around £90 for fish that is a couple of inches in size. Smaller is probably a little less, but if they are much less than £50 each, they are most likely something else.

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Mats

[RDH]

Thanks for the replies

They fell into the expensive category.

Rich

[Martin S]

Funnily enough they have some at the Ashtead MA that to my untrained eye look genuine, about 4" the white edges but the body still had some spots against a dark grey body and they were about £70. Still not totally convinced they could be genuine at that size and price but very unusual to see them for sale.
Martin

[Richard B]

Hybrids could still be expensive. Also at 4" TL some spots may still be evident. Some hybrids are being called granulosa sp. Some hybrids are very close copies of the real thing & I can only repeat this (for all fish) & that is to post a pic.

[RDH]

Any ideas about this, been sent pic by infividual selling it . Fins look ok i think maybe pale outside edges?? ,not sure about head.

[Richard B]

That is unbelievably close but head shape concerns me. Do you know what the dark area is on the outline of the fish above the eye? Something in the background?

The head shape reminds me of a hybrid (that I think Dave Rinaldo posted).

I don't think it is 100% pure granulosa.

[RDH]

Thanks for the reply, not sure about the dark area on head, looks like it is the head if the fish.
A pity, I guess the search goes on.

Rich

[Jools]

Richard,

What if the bent head thing is due to a deficiency in captive breeding (by fair means or foul). Could this not still be 100% granulosa (as you put it)? I would say with a degree of certainty it was not pulled from Lake Tanganyika though.

Jools

[Birger]

Could be the color of the substrate throwing it off and combine that with the bad angle picture... but does look off.

When I was at the CSG convention last year I saw a few real ones among the store I visited...the search should not be too difficult.

Birger

[RDH]

Once again, thanks for the replies.
The fish is according to the seller captive bred.

Imagine I will have to buy a wild one to be sure.

Thanks

Rich

[MatsP]

There are genuine S. granulosa being bred by Neil Hardy Aquatics. They are based in Surrey, but sell to retailers all over the country (including Maidenhead Aquatics branches). I know that (as of two weeks ago) Aqualife in Preston had at least one of those in stock.

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Mats

[unblinded]

I thought it was my imagination when seeing the pic in this PFK magazine of a Granulosa, but it appears to have the same head deformity.
http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/m ... p?sid=4927

[Richard B]

I think the pfk pic shows a fish with a 'more normal' pointy head.

@Jools - yes it could be a dietary deficiency but I wonder why this should occur when Hardys have produced so many perfect specimens

http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/view ... &start=120 in Dave Rinaldos post, look at the head shape of the first pic of the fish identified as granulosa x polli