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I have been given a catfish by friend who doesn't know what type of catfish it is. i put it in my community tank but want to read up on its nature, i haven't got a picture but can descibe. its leopard like in pattern and colour it has large whiskers and a large dorsal spike it pierced its way through three bags and got stuck, i had to cut it out does anyone know what kind of catfish this is? thankyou.

First thing I would think of is . If so, it'll be very happy in a community tank....

hello, thankyou for the fast reply, i have just looked up the name you gave me and compaired the picture with my catfish although it is similar in pattern and colour the spike that my catfish has is in front of the fin on the back it is black like a large thorn about 1cm in length, when it got scared in the bag it went into the corner and stuck the spike straight up into the bag, i have been trying to discover what this catfish is for hours now, thankyou for trying to help me, i think maybe i should attempt to get a picture in a couple of days when it has come out of hiding.

Could be that the primary hard ray of the dorsal (spike) is detached from the softer part of the fin - do they look like they join at the bottom? If the fin is separated is there any additional damage that may need treating?

A picture paints a thousand words as they say & is always a must in positively identifying a fish - the people in these forums can pretty much identify anything from a good photo.

I think your priority is to make sure this fish settles in as quickly as possible after the stress of moving & is treated if neccessary for any superficial fin/body damage.

An id can be sought later but if it is something predatory a community tank isn't ideal...

Hope everything turns out ok

Richard B

Richard B wrote:Could be that the primary hard ray of the dorsal (spike) is detached from the softer part of the fin

This is a very good observation and very likely what happened. The sting through the plastic bags tore the dorsal spine and the rest of the fin apart. I can't name you any catfish with a seperate dorsal spine as a "normal" feature.
If it is Leiarius longibarbis after all, beware of your other fish in that tank. This is a very voracious feeder and very interested in live fish....

yes u r right the spike is attached to the fin, it seems to have settled down is no longer in hiding swims up and down the sides of the tank. its colour seems to have changed from my first views is dark brown with black spots, see through fins with black zebra sripes, thankyou for helping me in trying to identify the catfish