PlanetCatfish.com

Hello!

I am a newb when it comes to fishkeeping and aquariums and just inherited a 6-month old 20 gallon tank with a few tetras a few danios, and this guy:

From what I can see he looks like a Pterygoplichthys pardalis from the "Commonaly Asked about species" post. http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/sp ... cies_id=88

Can anyone confirm what this fish actually is?


Thanks in advance!

Firstly, welcome to PlanetCatfish!

Yes, you have correctly identified your fish as (it may be P.disjunctivus, but only being able to see the belly would confirm). Either way, you have a fish that has the potential to reach in excess of 12".

HTH
Martin

First off, Thanks for the quick reply!

Good news:
I probably ID'd it correctly, or very close on the first try.

Bad news:
Oh boy.... we got a whopper

Two questions:
1. What distinguishing feature of the belly allows you to tell the difference between the pardalis and disjunctivus?
2. How long will it take this guy to outgrow his 20 gallon tank? He is about 2 inches long ATM.

I will try to get a pic of the belly when I get home.

Thanks again

From the Cat-eLog data sheet: The pattern on the abdomen is the most useful external key: P. pardalis has a spotted pattern, where P. disjunctivus has a vermiculated pattern.

If you click on the purple name in Martin's post, you'll get to the data sheet of the fish.
And welcome to PC of course.

He has a spotted belly, though I don't have a picture.

Guess that makes him a pardalis.

Thanks for the help! Looking forward to caring for my fish.

This is where it all goes down hill, you will fall in love with the quirks of your catfish and decide that he/she needs a bigger home, after that it is only a matter of time until your car lives on the street and your garage is full of tanks.

Welcome to PC.

2. How long will it take this guy to outgrow his 20 gallon tank? He is about 2 inches long ATM.

A lot quicker than you think, and you'll probably need to rehome it within two years. They grow like crazy.

AFAIK, Pterygoplichthys pardalis is the only loricariid species whose growth rate has been well-studied (albeit in their introduced range in Florida). They have been found to grow about 10 cm/4 in each year, in which case it may even be wise to rehome it before next year, as 6" is a pretty big fish for a 20 gallon.

I second the p. pardalis ID. I assume you bought it under common pleco?

you better have a large tank they grow big like 18-20 inch or so. they grow rather fast he/she will be around 7 inch in no time

good luck with your fishy