ID: Megalechis thoracata

[hwchoy]

another catfish that has squatted in my tank for so long I couldn't recall where I got it from…

Megalechis thoracata * id by NG H.H. *

[benny]

hmmm... the color balance seems off.

I recently posted about this fish too. Seems like it was recently re-classified.

Cheers,

[hwchoy]

yes recently "rearranged". Megalechis thoracata is the correct name.

I'm not sure if there's something going on with my PSCS setting but auto and flash WB setting yields a too yellow colour. I had to use as-shot WB to get what looks like the correct colour. Interestingly EOS RAW Converter seem to get it quite right. Anyway my monitor needs to send for servicing and is not not properly calibrated.

but my fish is much paler looking then yours, eg around the head.

[bryan]

Last night I went to my LFS and fell in love with a tankful of these cute little buggers. I believe they are juveniles about 1-1/2" the spots are bigger and darker.According to the owner they should max out at 3-4". I have no experience in them and would like to know if my planted tank with some rummynose & otos will be safe?

[hwchoy]

see the other thread linked in Benny's reply. they don't seem aggressive but they will grow big quite fast and when they swim out for food its like drink driving in a bull dozer, so your plants had better be solidly planted.

Oh and I was only talking about one of them.

[bryan]

Thanks for the heads-up, I couldn't resist and got 2 last night.

Ermm.. my wife's fault for making me wait . So for anyone else interested in this pretty catfish, it seems to be in season as I've spotted it in 2 LFS already.

[bossteck]

I am registering my availability as foster parents for anyone who got the above mentioned cats on impluse and later decide to give them away

[bryan]

Eric,

I'll keep you in mind if they don't work out.

[hwchoy]

I put mine into the small outdoor pond, he has grown a bit more and like I said, swims like drunk when he smells food.

[bossteck]

Eric,

I'll keep you in mind if they don't work out.

Thanks! Btw, just kidding about the impluse part, hope I didn't offend you.

I put mine into the small outdoor pond, he has grown a bit more and like I said, swims like drunk when he smells food.

Wah.. you have a pond! *envy*

[hwchoy]

yes 4ft x 1ft x 8-inch deep. not a tank so is a pond loh.

[bryan]

4 Months and they've tripled in size! They are not safe with fish less than an inch. I've been missing some small cardinals. I had assumed that being a 5ft tank and this guys being slow, the cardinals could get away with it.They are getting their own 2FT(Hooray! ) in the kitchen as they enjoy uprooting plants.