PlanetCatfish.com

I know these pics have been posted here before. I have these catfish, that I bought. The pet store called them African spotted catfish.
I have been told that they are Anaspidoglanis macrostoma. I have looked at pictures of this fish, and they look nothing like mine. The alternative was they were Parauchenoglanis guttatus, but because these fish have not been found in the aquarium trade, I've been told that there is no way I could have these.

I have fry reaching about 3 months old now. (along with the parents)
Can anyone help me identify these catfish please?

This link will take you to the page with pics of the fry.
http://www.hometown.aol.com/mja1028/plants.html

I'm afraid I was the guilty culprit (via Tim) that was responsible for the seesawing opinions to the identity. After doing as much research as I could on the fish (I am currently writing a CoTM piece on the fish), I finally concluded that it's <i>A. macrostoma</i>. <i>Parauchenoglanis guttatus</i> does not have a color pattern like your fish.
BTW, any chance that I can use your breeding account in the CoTM piece?

The pics for A. macrostoma look nothing like my catfish though. The faces are different.
This is why I am still confused. The pics on this site for A. macrostoma look nothing like my catfish.
Is there a possibility that they might just be something different than either one?

I'm no expert, and I appreciate everyone's help, but I still don't think they are A. macrostoma.

Here are some more pics of the catfish

I don't see anything really different between the pics of your fish and those on this site. You just have to take into consideration the fact that the pics were all taken from different angles.

The difference that I see is the face. My catfish has different (i believe they are called)Barbels?

I was reading about a catfish by the name of Anaspidoglanis Boutchangai.
The body and coloring of the A.macrostoma is identical to my catfish, but the face is much different.

I'm wondering if the catfish I have is this other catfish.

I know I'm being difficult about all of this, and I really appreciate everyone's help.

Barbels are one of the least reliable characters used in distinguishing catfishes, especially (among many others) for <i>Anaspidoglanis</i>. Given that <i>A. boutchangai</i> has a much more restricted distribution and is found in an area where few (if any) aquarium fish are being exported, I'd say that isn't very likely to be your fish.

Thank-you Silurus.
I know I'm being difficult, but I just really want to be sure.

So, why are barbels the least reliable characteristic used in distinguishing catfishes? (especially in Anaspidoglanis)
What is the most reliable?

Th pictures for A.macrostoma, on this site look different. The head shot looks different than the full body shots.
Am I just missing something?

Thanks for all of your help.

Depends on what is it about the barbels that you are examining. Most people go for the length, which can vary greatly due to both intrinsic (e.g. age) or environmental factors.
Some of the more reliable characters include the length of the adipose fin and coloration (this only works if you fully understand color variation within the species). Don't have the references handy at the moment, but I'm sure there are more.

Earlier you had asked about using my breeding account for something.
I'd love to contribute, but unfortunatly I know very little about why it happened.

I don't know what set them off, or how to do it again.

I am going to be moving them into their own tank soon, after the fry grow-up, so that I can watch them more closely.

I am also curious to see how the brood care works. Reading about it and seeing it are two different things.

Any information I get, I will gladly share.

I just need some info for a Catfish of the Month article I am writing on <i>A. macrostoma</i>>. I don't really need too many details. Whatever info you can furnish is fine.
Just look at May's Catfish of the Month (which I wrote) here to get an idea of what is needed.

All I really know is.....

Shortly after I got them home in January, they crawled into a cave and built a wall infront of it.
I bought a bigger rock,both catfish made it their home. In late February, I lifted the rock to find fry. They looked alot like tadpoles. Less than a week later the fry started venturing out, with egg sacks still attached. Five days after that the fry were free swimming.

One of the parents was always underneath with the fry. The other would lay on the top of the rock, that the fry were under.

They both stay under that same rock now, unless it's feeding time.

The fry have grown rather quickly. Most of them are about 3 inches long now, and they are about 3 months old.

My catfish have eaten various frozen foods, flake and sinking wafers.
They are fairly inactive. Even at night.

The male is slightly smaller than the female.
The male is also darker in color than the female.

I have never seen them leave the bottom of the tank.
They are very strong. They come out and dig up all of my plants, and knock things over.

I hope some of my rambling helps.

If you need more, just let me know.

I have to shut my computer off now, we have a storm moving in.