Clarias angolensis-(warning big pictures!!)

Mika · Post by **Mika** » 07 Feb 2003, 12:37

I saw one last week in importers aquarium. Fishbase gives stantard length of 35 cm is this correct? Does anyone have experiences? Very nice looking fish and if it doesn`t grow bigger it is good addition to my aquarium.

Post by **Silurus** » 07 Feb 2003, 13:12

This is a rare instance of FishBase being actually correct. Clarias angolensis does not get bigger than about 32 cm SL.
Wish I could say more about their care (I have some C. angolensis on hold for me at an importer right now), but most Clarias are generally easy to care for anyway, even the non-cultured species (my experience with Asian Clarias).
Get it for your aquarium and let us know how it works out.

Mika · Post by **Mika** » 23 Feb 2003, 12:11

Got it an friday. Very nice looking Clarias. It has well behaved so far. IÂ´m watching for any changes in behaviour. It had been with in shipment of Pareutropius buffei. Had eaten a few of them until importer noticed it existing in the aquarium. They were reliefed to hand it over and they had drawn skull in shipment bag.

It is only 15 cm long at the moment and has plenty of growing to do. My Mystys leucophasis and Anaspidoglanis macrostoma already did showed its place in pecking order. WeÂ´ll see what happens.

Mika · Post by **Mika** » 24 Feb 2003, 13:07

How to indetify my Clarias. It looks bit like this "C.camerunensis" but has many white spots on its body. Planetcatfish E-Log shows aqualog photo of C. angolensis without white spots. If someone has Aquarien atlas (was it 2,3 or4??) it shows as C. angolensis like mine.Hope it isn`t C. camerunensis or any other big monster.Very confusing

Post by **Silurus** » 24 Feb 2003, 13:12

What is the pattern of the spots on your fish? African Clarias have spots that are either arrranged in parallel vertical rows, or randomly scattered over the body. Knowing how the spots are arranged may be important in helping to determine what species you have.
Clarias angolensis is said to have no spots, BTW. A picture would help.

Mika · Post by **Mika** » 24 Feb 2003, 13:14

What is the pattern of the spots on your fish? African Clarias have spots that are either arrranged in parallel vertical rows, or randomly scattered over the body. Knowing how the spots are arranged may be important in helping to determine what species you have.

IÂ´ll have to check when i get home.I recall spots being in parallel vertical rows. Hope i get the picture in couple of days here.

Mika · Post by **Mika** » 10 Mar 2003, 16:20

Ok itÂ´s judgement day. Is this clarias The Terminator or what? Do i have another Clarias batrachus or is this C. angolensis. It came- like i mentioned along African import.I once had batrachus and if this is it too i call it T2.I tried to photograph something from which to identify it.

Post by **Silurus** » 10 Mar 2003, 16:29

Bad news: it's not C. angolensis.
Not so bad news: It looks like C. batrachus at first glance, but it may be another African species. I can only confirm later tonight, though.
Can you get a pic of the dorsal view also? Pictures aren't showing up in the initial post. I had to cut and paste the urls to view them.

Mika · Post by **Mika** » 10 Mar 2003, 16:37

Can you get a pic of the dorsal view also?

Dorsal view? Help me little bit. From the side,behind or front?

Post by **Silurus** » 10 Mar 2003, 17:14

From the top.

Post by **Silurus** » 10 Mar 2003, 23:26

Until I get a dorsal shot to confirm, my tentative conclusion is that you have Clarias pachynema, which grows to about 35 cm.

Mika · Post by **Mika** » 11 Mar 2003, 09:59

i`m moving in a month and i have planned to take pictures of my catfishes in separate photographing tank.WeÂ´ll be back in bussiness then. Thanks so far.

Mika · Post by **Mika** » 23 Jan 2004, 13:30

Silurus confirmed that it was Claria pachynema months ago. On which characters is determination based on? They almost all(Clarias "africans") look so similar to me. Is the main reference this?

Teugels, G.G., 1986. A systematic revision of the African species of the genus Clarias (Pisces; Clariidae).. Ann. Mus. R. Afr. Centr., Sci. Zool., 247:199 p.

By the way it is still living with a rotten whiskers

http://www.forum.planetcatfish.com/viewtopic.php?t=5089

Post by **Silurus** » 23 Jan 2004, 13:35

Is the main reference this?

Yes, although many Clarias (both African and Asian) are actually difficult to identify accurately without detailed examination.