I think it is a cat...

fallout · Post by **fallout** » 29 Aug 2004, 23:12

I recently purchased three fish at a new local pet store, to add to my community tank. I am not sure what they are. The store owner indicated that they were rainbow fish... but after looking through my books, I don't think he was correct. From what I have seen on line, I thought that they were perhaps Pangasius hypophthalmus or something similar. I have included pics, but the fish are a bit hard to photograph. They are still getting acquainted to the tank and swim about like zebra danios.. I will try to describe them as best I can. They are about 3 inches long, have a mouth like a catfish, big eyes, and the body shape of a Bala Shark. The fish have 2 or three large horizontial stripes, alternating between dark grey and silver. There appears to be two small wiskers on the underside of the mouth that lay flat against the body, pointing towards the tail. they have a v shaped tail very similar to a bala shark. They tend to swim about together but get really frantic when I approach to the tank. The tank mates are four Diamond tetra and four Harlequin Rasbora. They don't seem to be interested in eating the flake food, so I am not sure what to give them? The swim all over the tank, including the bottom and the sides. Any advice?

pmac · Post by **pmac** » 30 Aug 2004, 02:47

Hi
your fish is an iridescent shark. Despite the name, it is indeed a catfish.
Mike

Post by **Silurus** » 30 Aug 2004, 03:17

Given the sizes they would reach, I'd return them to the store if I were you.

jurassic_pork · Post by **jurassic_pork** » 30 Aug 2004, 13:23

I concur

Mark

Mika · Post by **Mika** » 30 Aug 2004, 19:07

The store owner indicated that they were rainbow fish..

The LFS of the year award goes to....

fallout · Post by **fallout** » 03 Sep 2004, 01:42

Well... thanks for the advice. I did some checking on the iridescent shark and was quite suprised that they were selling them in the store. The guy has a whole tank full...maybe about 30 or so fish. My tank is only 29 gallons, so it is indeed not the size for those fish. The store won't take them back...and I can't just flush them... so I guess I am stuck with them. I am pretty fond of the plants in my tank. The big green one has been growing for about six years...will those cat's harm the plant?

Anyway, thanks for the info... btw, I am a newbee to the internet lingo... what is LFS mean?

Thanks,

Fallout

Post by **Silurus** » 03 Sep 2004, 01:53

will those cat's harm the plant?

Not directly.

what is LFS mean?

Local fish store.

Post by **Barbie** » 03 Sep 2004, 04:58

This Saturday afternoon, about 3 pm, take your receipt, your fish they sold you as rainbows and a patient smile to your local fish store, where you bought said fish, and sit on their doorstep offering them to customers heading in the door. Patiently tell people the whole story about how they said they were selling you rainbows, which you did want, but you actually got home with a fish that grows to 3 feet and is totally unsuitable for your tank, as you are a novice. Then explain how the same said store refuses to even take him back, so you're trying to find him a suitable home.

I guarantee you won't sit on their doorstep more than one or two tellings of the story before the owner has a change of heart and offers to at least take it back, even though he probably won't refund your money.

Then count that price as a learning experience and never waste your money in his store again as a reward for his fine customer service.

Barbie

ryan the army guy · Post by **ryan the army guy** » 03 Sep 2004, 15:39

I too have fallen victum to the uneducated pet store employee, appently I have two of them in my 50 gallon tank, now it looks like one is pregnant, I now its stange but it really looks like it, I need advice on breeding and more info on these fish!
thanks

sidguppy · Post by **sidguppy** » 04 Sep 2004, 14:25

ehm, the raw version:

The Iridescent Shark or Pangasius sutchi (proper name is Pangasius hypophthalmus; but it's most often sold as P sutchi and in many books referred as such) is a huge Asian Riverine fish......

-lengths vary from a 'mere' 1,5 foot in captivity to 3 feet or more in the wild! (see HERE!!)
-it's a highly stressfull fish and a shoaler as well; bigger specimen often have a damaged snout and damaged eyes.
-it actually isn't a "fishtank-fish" at all; they're bred (by hormone injection) in Asia for foodconsumption; the surplus of baby Pangasius are sold as 'pets' to the aquariumtrade; but it's quite unsuitable for that, actually.
-it's an easy eater and will eat flake as well as freezefoods.

I think it is a cat...

I think it is a cat...

iridescent shark

Thanks for the ID

Irredescent shark