Could this be Pinirampus pirinampu?

[Viktor Jarikov]

I've bought "it" 4-5 times before over the past 10 years and each time it wasn't this giant but some other obscure small pim, like an Exallodontus sp., etc.

Could this one be it? One pic for now. Vendor promised more pics this Sunday.

[Jools]

I don't think so Viktor, the barbkes don't look heavy enough and, although it develops more in later life, the dorsal fin doesn't look extendeed enough. Looks like

Exallodontus

to me.

Cheers,

Jools

[Viktor Jarikov]

Thank you much for your input, Jools.

The vendor said the last specimen of the batch that was remaining was clearly different from the one on this photo. He sent me the photos and it is a bycatch, looks like a Pimelodella sp. So they do not have any alleged pirinampu right now. Let's see if they bring them back and then we could get more and better photos hopefully.

[Jools]

When I've seen them they've always been in shipments from the Parana, usually out of Uruguay.

Jools

[Viktor Jarikov]

Interesting, Jools. I wonder why it'd be as they seem to be very widely distributed in SA in almost every country.

Anyhow, the vendor ordered more of the alleged P.p. (Interestingly, I just received a new availability list from our supplier in Peru with both Piramutana pitramuta Flatwhiskered Catfish 4-5cm Rio Nanay and Pinirampus pirinampu "real" Flatwhiskered Catfish 5-6cm Amazonas. I will be ordering both and we'll have something to compare. It will be interesting to see what comes late next week. I'll get you an update when they arrive.) ... but they arrived DOA (sat overnight at an airport). So he says he'll try in a week or two again.

Meanwhile, here is the bycatch we spoke of earlier:

[Viktor Jarikov]

Our UK peer Rpul thinks he might have the P.p. If you cared to look at his pics, what would you say for the ID?

https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/foru ... ut.761078/

[Viktor Jarikov]

Our UK peer Rpul thinks he might have the P.p. If you cared to look at his pics, what would you say for the ID?

https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/foru ... ut.761078/

I will post his pics here then. The fish is about 6 inches now.

[Viktor Jarikov]

5 more

[Viktor Jarikov]

So Mike from AquaImports finally got another batch in:

"Hi Viktor, We tried to bring in another batch of what was listed as "True Flat Whisker" and received the fish in the photos attached. Unfortunately, I haven't had much time to get you an accurate ID. Let me know if these are of any interest to you. Thanks, Mike -- Aqua Imports 2690 28th St Boulder, CO 80301 www.aqua-imports.com"

To me looks to be the same fish species as Rpul's. Please help us ID the species or at least determine if this is P. p. or not?

[Jools]

Our UK peer Rpul thinks he might have the P.p. If you cared to look at his pics, what would you say for the ID?

https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/foru ... ut.761078/

They do look like the real deal to me. Mostly because of the whiskers but also eye shape and profile of adipose fin.

Cheers,

Jools

[Jools]

So Mike from AquaImports finally got another batch in:

To me looks to be the same fish species as Rpul's. Please help us ID the species or at least determine if this is P. p. or not?

It could be, I am not so sure but I can't say it is something else. While the whiskers maybe have not developed I do see a large eye and also that long low adipose fin.

Cheers,

Jools

[Viktor Jarikov]

Thank you so much Jools. I've stared at these photos vs Pinirampus and vs Exallodontus and I agree with you:

1. Exallodontus adipose is a tiny bit taller and asymmetric and almost has a semi-sharp point closer to the dorsal while Pinirampus' adipose looks symmetric, low, without any defined points.
2. Exallodontus dorsal is a bit shorter vs. Pinirampus.
3. Pinirampus tail looks oversized vs the head size, which doesn't look like it for Exallodontus.
4. Pinirampus has faint spotted vertical lines on the body which are absent in Exallodontus.

AquaImport's fish and Rpul's fish match Pinirampus in these 4 traits.

Megalonema genus cats don't match the fish in question. For one their adipose fins are vastly different.

[Jools]

Perhaps you could write this up in one or two CotM articles? Would be nice (a bit like L200) to have two of them each comparing against the other and the usual care information.

Cheers,

Jools

[Viktor Jarikov]

Thank you Jools. I could give it a try. Is there a min and max size for the article? I don't have firsthand experience keeping Pinirampus, nor do I know anyone who has. The blue jumper catfish aka Exallodontus I kept.