8" Pagnasius - possibility or myth?

Elspeth · Post by **Elspeth** » 20 Mar 2004, 18:06

I saw some fish in a local chain store labelled as "Pangasius Cats - Pangasius sutchi - adult size 8 inches." A little background: this store, though a chain, does not carry painted fish and usually labels tankbusters appropriately. Their raphael cats are invisible save for the shelf tag, because they are allowed a large ornament to hide in. When I got my bala sharks, the fishcatcher apologetically quizzed me about my tank size. They aren't saints; their "common plecs" are Liposarcus pardalis labelled as Hypostomus plecostomus and kept crowded under bright light without hidey-holes. BUT they have always seemed to be making more effort than most such stores not to sell too wildly inappropriate fish.

These "pangasius cats" don't look to me like the iridescent sharks I've seen, and they don't seem as flighty as I would expect; but I'm no expert, don't know how quickly they lose the iridescent coloring, or if they go through less flighty stages (or just get tired out). If there is a possibility that these aren't really iridescent sharks under a different name, I'll try for some photographs during the week when they're less busy and see what you all think. IS there such a thing as a pagnasius that is not huge as an adult?

Because this store does make some effort, I'm thinking about talking to the fish department manager or writing a letter about why offering this fish for sale as an aquarium tropical is bad. There might actually be some chance they'd listen.

Post by **Silurus** » 20 Mar 2004, 22:34

The smallest species of Pangasius (P. pangasius) still manages 12" full-grown, so it's unlikely that an 8" Pangasius exists (unless maybe the balloon morphs of P. sanitwongsei...I don't know how large these get to).
There are Asian schilbeids sold as dwarf Pangasius (Pseudeutropius), and these reach only 2.5" or so. The other Asian schilbeid that would reach an approximate size of 8" is Laides (which looks very much like a baby Pangasius), but I have never seen these enter the aquarium trade.

ME · Post by ME » 20 Mar 2004, 22:36

Aparently it is possible http://fish-tank.freeservers.com/pangasius.html i went to this site and they say it grows up to 38" but it will grow to 8" in a regular tank

Post by **Rusty** » 20 Mar 2004, 22:37

There is an off chance they are actually , which stay much smaller than any real Pangasius.

Rusty

Post by **Silurus** » 20 Mar 2004, 22:45

Aparently it is possible http://fish-tank.freeservers.com/pangasius.html i went to this site and they say it grows up to 38" but it will grow to 8" in a regular tank

Did you read the footnote? Apparently the Pangasius have decided that reaching to only 8" in a tank was not healthy advice for them.

ME · Post by ME » 20 Mar 2004, 22:50

Alright i guess not