Microglanis identification

[Casscats]

Imported to lfs as iheringi, but markings don't match to catalog references, and reading its rarely imported.

So, what lovelies did I pick up from the store today?

This picture shows the pectoral spine

[Casscats]

Another photo

The shape im seeing in the fin spines

[Casscats]

I think the pectoral spine would match up with m. aff. iheringi

https://www.planetcatfish.com/common/sp ... ies_id=303

Did I get it correctly?

[bekateen]

Hi Casscats.

My favourites! How many fish did you buy? Four?
Check out these three sets of photos of

Microglanis aff_iheringi

:



The three above photos probably represent the same species.



This is a very well fed example of a female and a male of a different species.

Then look at these. They are different from the two types above:



For each, notice the differences in the brown saddle under the dorsal fin.

If your fish were imported from Colombia, where most Microglanis in the USA are coming from, you might have a mix of these. In truth, that "aff. iheringi" page shows at least three different species, all incorrectly imported as "iheringi."

Cheers, Eric

[bekateen]

Sadly, while the pectoral spines have been used as a key trait among different Microglanis, it's also been shown that the spiny serrations change a little with age, so it's not as good a trait as originally thought.

[Casscats]

Hi Casscats.

My favourites! How many fish did you buy? Four?
Check out these three sets of photos of

Microglanis aff_iheringi

:



The three above photos probably represent the same species.



This is a very well fed example of a female and a male of a different species.

Then look at these. They are different from the two types above:



For each, notice the differences in the brown saddle under the dorsal fin.

If your fish were imported from Colombia, where most Microglanis in the USA are coming from, you might have a mix of these. In truth, that "aff. iheringi" page shows at least three different species, all incorrectly imported as "iheringi."

Cheers, Eric

I bought 4, as that's what they had. They're freshly imported, have a tiny bit of ich but are in quarantine. They're very little, 1.5 inch SL on the biggest one. Assuming young sizes still. At least they all look to be the same exact species as one another.

That being said, what temperature would you say they'd be best at? I'm trying to decide which tank they'll go in, but it is temperature dependent.

They were a bit of an impulse. Did do a general parameter, sociability, and compatibility check before buying though. Just didn't expect to fall in love as soon as I looked at them. They're incredibly cute.


If it matters at all, I'm in Canada. I've seen these guys a total of 3 times now available in the last couple years, but these are the first in person. Most are labeled as "dwarf marbled catfish"

[bekateen]

I keep mine at 76-78F. Neutral to slightly acidic. Water hardness not to critical, but softer is better. For food, they aren't fussy eaters, but frozen foods and live foods are eagerly attacked and eaten.

As far as location, I suspect Canada gets the same stock we get in the USA. I've found (and bought) all three species in a single store tank. They come from different rivers in Colombia, but they get mixed at the Colombian exporters, I suspect.

Cheers, Eric

[bekateen]

At least they all look to be the same exact species as one another.

This one might be different. It appears to have the pale gaps in the brown saddle. Photo angle is not ideal, so I might be wrong.

Cheers,
Eric

[Casscats]

Okay then that's perfect, they'll go in my warmer 55g once they're done quarantine it sits 76-78F my others sit 74-76F and 72-74F lol

Ah so the markings would make them different more.

I could reach out and ask the lfs where the supplier of these were. But I do suspect Columbia as well.

These guys are adorable, I'll need to add extra leaf litter to their permanent tank. I have leaves in their QT tank and they're all darting among them and sleeping under them and it's so cute

[bekateen]

I could reach out and ask the lfs where the supplier of these were. But I do suspect Columbia as well.

If the seller can confirm Colombia, that's probably as specific as they can get, since as I mentioned above, the different Colombian watersheds get mixed at exporters and therefore the exact source typically isn't traced.

These guys are adorable

They really are. And once you start to notice the differences between the undescribed species, they become like Pokemon ("Gotta catch 'em all!") and Lay's potato chips ("Can't [have] just one"). Sadly, they get less attention than all the fancy corys and plecos because to the untrained eye, the fish that get imported "all look alike" and people don't notice the unique traits. If that were true with plecos, we wouldn't have hundreds of L numbers....

Hey, that's an idea, "M-numbers" for undescribed Microglanis! JK... or am I?

Enjoy your bumblebees! ... and send pics as they grow!

Cheers,
Eric

[Casscats]

I could reach out and ask the lfs where the supplier of these were. But I do suspect Columbia as well.

If the seller can confirm Colombia, that's probably as specific as they can get, since as I mentioned above, the different Colombian watersheds get mixed at exporters and therefore the exact source typically isn't traced.

These guys are adorable

They really are. And once you start to notice the differences between the undescribed species, they become like Pokemon ("Gotta catch 'em all!") and Lay's potato chips ("Can't [have] just one"). Sadly, they get less attention than all the fancy corys and plecos because to the untrained eye, the fish that get imported "all look alike" and people don't notice the unique traits. If that were true with plecos, we wouldn't have hundreds of L numbers....

Hey, that's an idea, "M-numbers" for undescribed Microglanis! JK... or am I?

Enjoy your bumblebees! ... and send pics as they grow!

Cheers,
Eric

I've seen these guys available here a total of 3 times in almost a decade. And this was the first time I've seen them available in person! Definitely not a common fish up this way.

I do have one more question.

Given that they do have a minor case of ich, what treatment would you recommend? Usually I opt for Malchite green at half dose for scaleless fish, but if there's a better method I'd like to know.

Heat at 86F for 2 weeks?

Salt? Unsure if they're salt tolerant or not, my understanding is most catfish aren't.

Or stick with meds?

[bekateen]

I've bought them before with bad cases of ich. I typically don't raise the temp, but I suspect you could raise it to about 82F very safely; I don't know if I'd go higher than that since you don't have easy access to more in case they die. I've always treated with the old fashioned Nox-Ich medicine, which I believe is a malachite green and sodium chloride. I use it full strength, not half dose. If you have a pond store nearby, see if they carry ProForm C; it's a slightly different formulation and I think a little better.

Microglanis are very available in the USA at many pet stores, even Petco sometimes. If you're ever looking for more, drop down here to the land of economic tariffs and grab a few at almost any local pet store. They are usually priced between $6-$10 USD.

Cheers,
Eric

[Casscats]

Interesting the one med is m green and sodium chloride, as sodium chloride is literally just salt.

I have access to Tetra Ich Guard (malachite green + acrflavine) which is my usual go-to for ich and minor bacterial infections since acriflavine is an antibacterial agent.

Also can get Kordon Rid Ich Plus (formalin based med) and some herbal stuff I question.

[bekateen]

I suspect any of those will work.

Good luck!
Eric

[Casscats]

They are not responding to the ich meds or salt, I've gone through both as they reacted badly first to the malachite green/acriflavine medication and I switched to salt and the disease is only spreading and now is not looking like any disease I have ever come across.

I am thinking some sort of parasitic infection? I have praziquantel/metronidazole meds, though given how hard they are to get my hands on here in Canada, I'd rather not use them unless absolutely necessary... but I think I may need to go that route.

No fatalities but they're physically getting worse

[bekateen]

That looks weird. I don't recognize it. Might be subcutaneous parasites. I've had those on Microglanis before. In my fish's case, I treated with endoparasite meds. Don't recall it working, but the fish lived a long time and the disease didn't spread.

Good luck,
Eric

[Casscats]

I think there may be some slow improvement with salt treatment, I am going to continue it for a little while more before judging if it needs a more aggressive approach.

[bekateen]

Keep going!

[Casscats]

Can definitely say there's improvement! Way less spots, most are nearly clear of it, the worst affected one only has a couple but not near as many as he did before.

Here's a video from tonight when I fed them, in their little quarantine tote (I use totes because my husband worries they'll wind up being a permanent new tank if I set up a glass one for quarantine )

[bekateen]

Excellent.

[Casscats]

I can't wait until they're clear of disease, I think they're going to like the tank I'm planning to move them to. I want to wait at least 2 weeks after the illness clears just to be 100% sure it's good though. They're not clear yet, so could still be awhile.


This is the tank, it's a 55 gallon with a lot of driftwood tangles. I think ill add some additional leaf litter too, but they seem to really like wedging themselves behind the filter of their quarantine, so I think they'll love wedging themselves in the driftwood tangle.

I may have to consider fish-proofing the wavemaker though, I worry for their habit of squeezing into things that they might consider trying that.

[bekateen]

I may have to consider fish-proofing the wavemaker though, I worry for their habit of squeezing into things that they might consider trying that.

FYI, in my first Microglanis tank, a 10 gallon tank with an Aqueon HOB filter, I noticed I was missing one fish. I was puzzled. I looked in the filter box and found one fish had somehow gotten into the filter and lived there for at least a month! (HERE)

And then there was this tragic discovery:
https://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/vie ... 33#p341533

So, yeah, make sure they can't sneak into places you don't want them to be.

Cheers, Eric

[Casscats]

They have the all clear after this week's water change, I plan to add them to the main tank. For the time being the wave maker is turned off until I can either replace it with something enclosed/safer or can make it safe for them. The adult fish can't get into my canister, but eggs or possible fry that aren't eaten in the main tank could--but that's any of the fish. I've found things like cherry barbs and ancistrus pleco fry living in my canisters before, so it wouldn't be the first time. But the slots on the intake are less than 2mm in size and the spray bar outlet has small 2-3mm holes as well, so should be good.

They're looking much fatter now as well.

[bekateen]

Very nice! Glad they did so well!

And you got much clearer photos now. Those two with the holes in the dorsal saddles look great!

Cheers,
Eric

[Casscats]

Very nice! Glad they did so well!

And you got much clearer photos now. Those two with the holes in the dorsal saddles look great!

Cheers,
Eric

Definitely thinking a mix of species.

Two have the holes on the dorsal marks, but one has a split hole while the other does not

They like to wedge themselves behind their pump filter lol