The PlanetCatfish coolwall thread

[RickE]

I've looked worse than that after a week's carp fishing

Jools - maybe the two walls should be split into separate threads? And are you counting votes as we go along or is there going to be a big vote at the end?

[Jools]

Yes, I think we'll run with just the species one for a while. However, the vote thing is far too democratic. I will (with an open mind, honest) listen to the debate on a species until it dries up and then decide in a Clarkson-esque dictatorial fashion!

Right now, mummymonkey has it well in the uncool spot!

Jools

[MatsP]

They have a rescued redtail at my local MA, I'm not a massive fan, but in a very large tank I agree they do look special. On balance, cool.
My wife looked at the fisherman pic and didn't even notice the fish, which is a bit worrying.

In both of the MA branches I visited yesterday, they had "rescued" RTC's. (And in St. Albans they had a large Leiarius species as well).

--
Mats

[Deb]

Have you looked at the guy holding the fish in the linked picture? He can't even dress himself.

Sadly, there is a photo of Heiko Bleher on the web that reminds me of this one.

[andregurov]

For me, the easiest way to determine if it is cool or uncool is to think of its human analog. It has a huge mouth, grows to excessive weights, follows food blindly (or via the sense of smell), seems to be everywhere, is represented in collections overmuch by neophytes, and its red fades as it gets older. It seems quite obvious to me the fish is Bette Midler. And thus quite un-cool.

[racoll]

Priceless. I wonder if he has any idea?

Using the car analogy, RTCs are a bit like an XR3i - cheap, chavvy, and so 1985.

[catmar]

Familiarity has bred contempt with this fish and we're applying anthropomorphic qualities to it. Imagine if it had just been discovered, we would all be wetting ourselves with excitement!

[L number Banana]

RTC = Cool.

a. It's well dressed in a tuxedo.
b. It's instantly recognizable by newbies and 'experts' alike. "An unmistakable species" according to PC...
c. It's doesn't have a silly look on it's face in the photo above, looks kind of mean.
d. It's not a fish that can be easily forgotten, "Like me, hate me, but you won't forget me". EVERYONE has learned about this fish.
e.It changes as it ages, gracefully like David Attenborough.
f. Helps some people feel manly.

[wrasse]

My vote is - cool cat!

No, it's not cool to keep one; they're just too big.

But its a beautiful catfish. Why shouldn't a catfish be black, white and red, garish etc etc? Mother Nature saw a gap and filled it with this whopper. Other fabulous animals a RTC might compare with - panda, giraffe, beluga. You couldn't dream them up, and to me that's cool.

I can't think of a car to compare it with. Maybe a bulldozer? (and no, I wouldn't want one parked on the driveway).

[wrasse]

By the way Jools, I've met you a couple of times and - thankfully - you are nothing like Jeremy Clarkson.

[Richard B]

In terms of cars, a RTC is a Bentley Continental GT http://cars.88000.org/17__Bentley_Conti ... Series.htm

Big , heavy, powerful, expensive to run, superb looking though, almost a status symbol....but you look at it & think I want one of them, before realising what it's gonna cost to keep one uncool.....

[bronzefry]

I laughed at the clip. They've been pushing that show like crazy over here. The Nissan 370Z is COOL! Couldn't afford it and there's no back seat. Breath on the gas and you're going way too fast. Back to catfish: I have to say hybrid Synodontis: way uncool. It's stopping me from purchasing any. I don't know what to look for. I wish I knew. I'm sure there are some tremendous Syno species out there that are great for me. I'd love to have a go at them. They'd be on the cool list. Cool for me: anything scientifically unidentified that breeds. Mass confusion and euphoria at the same time. Example: L-387. Is it really a Peckoltia sp. with a mouth like that? Anything "ugly" to many that's pretty to me? COOL! Example: Bunocephalus coracoideus. The coolest? The first catfish you breed, catch sight of the eggs and rear them. Then, seeing a happy person who wants the fish you bred. Beyond cool.
Amanda
ps. lots of posts when I wrote this! RTCs make good otter food.

[wrasse]

Come on Jools, put the RTC on the cool wall (you know you want to, really). How can you not? On the scales of justice if you have an RTC on one side and a blimmin bronze corydoras on the other, which way are ya gonna go? hmmm? hmmmmmmm?

The human version of this catfish is governor of California! How cool is that?...Baby!

[RickE]

By the way Jools, I've met you a couple of times and - thankfully - you are nothing like Jeremy Clarkson.

Ah, but Jools is still 'tall' enough in hyperspace to move things out of the reach of us Richard Hammonds!

[MatsP]

Ah, but Jools is still 'tall' enough in hyperspace to move things out of the reach of us Richard Hammonds!

I think you mean "Cyberspace", and that was definitely a funny way to put it. And yes, even me, at 6'3" is not "tall enough to reach things when Jools holds them high" in a Cyberspace way - I can do many things on this site, and I'm happy to have earned the honour to be able to do them, but Jools still keep a few things that only he can do [generally for good reasons too!]

--
Mats

[RickE]

Errrm yeah, cyberspace , must be my son's Star Wars marathon over the weekend having an effect!

[L number Banana]

Wrasse wrote:

I can't think of a car to compare it with. Maybe a bulldozer? (and no, I wouldn't want one parked on the driveway).

Car comparison? A jeep. Status symbol for some, utilitarian for others, wouldn't want to drive it to an opera but would like it for my gardening. Rugged, well designed but usually bought for all the wrong reasons, just like the fish.

And black and white with red, garish? Black dress and red pumps, maybe sexy but not garish if done with class This fish is dressed to the nines. Little brown jobs may be sweet and have their charm but everyone needs a bit of bling. Kind of like a man in a kilt, garish to some, very hot to others.

What turns someone's head? Not burlap.

RTC = cool.
Stores who sell them are very uncool.

Jools: If your thread catches fire, it would be good to eventually look at the geographic differences.

[Carp37]

I think all the large, predatory pims are seriously cool fish- they embody to me exactly what drew me to catfish as a group in the first place, with stunning looks and the predatory "wow" factor. But no, I've never kept one and I expect I never will- it would require a lottery win and I don't do the lottery, which limits my chances just a smidge.

RTC hybrids, on the other hand, are seriously uncool.

[MatsP]

it would require a lottery win and I don't do the lottery, which limits my chances just a smidge.

You mean it takes you from 1 in 14 million chance to zero chance. 1 in 14 million means that on average, if you play two sets of numbers a week, you need to play for 134000 years or so to win. Of course, since a large number of people don't realize this, there is a winner almost every draw. [Of course, it'd only be 1300 odd years if you pay £100 each week for 100 different sets of numbers - but of course, if you put 400 pounds into the bank every month, you'd could probably keep a redtail catfish after a few years... (as you have to save up a bit for the initial setup, then it's running costs after that)]

--
Mats

[Jools]

Wrasse wrote:

I can't think of a car to compare it with. Maybe a bulldozer? (and no, I wouldn't want one parked on the driveway).

Car comparison? A jeep. Status symbol for some, utilitarian for others, wouldn't want to drive it to an opera but would like it for my gardening. Rugged, well designed but usually bought for all the wrong reasons, just like the fish.

I'd say status symbol for most, utilitarian for a few in both cases - it's a great analogy even down to the buyers. But, that doesn't lift it out of uncool (or even seriously so).

And black and white with red, garish? Black dress and red pumps, maybe sexy but not garish if done with class This fish is dressed to the nines. Little brown jobs may be sweet and have their charm but everyone needs a bit of bling. Kind of like a man in a kilt, garish to some, very hot to others.

Yeah, black with red, white with red, black and white - all classy. Mix the three together and it's garish. And, having once owned a gold mobile phone, I'm all for bling - but I reckon this is more Mr T in the bling stakes. As to men in kilts, well, who's to say that isn't uncool - often it is seriously so!

Out with of the general discussion here, in a real light bulb on moment, I just realised the back of my display tank is the perfect size for the cool wall, and I can print out pictures of the fish and stick them on it! Genius. This might even make a Planet TV series on you tube! Guest appearances by aquatic dignitaries!

Jools

[Richard B]

I'm all for bling - but I reckon this is more Mr T in the bling stakes.

I think there are far more bling-ing cats than a RTC

Out with of the general discussion here, in a real light bulb on moment, I just realised the back of my display tank is the perfect size for the cool wall, and I can print out pictures of the fish and stick them on it! Genius. This might even make a Planet TV series on you tube! Guest appearances by aquatic dignitaries! Jools

Oh-ho this is a uber-mega idea!!!!!!!!!!!!

[RickE]

Yeah, black with red, white with red, black and white - all classy. Mix the three together and it's garish. And, having once owned a gold mobile phone, I'm all for bling - but I reckon this is more Mr T in the bling stakes. As to men in kilts, well, who's to say that isn't uncool - often it is seriously so!

Jools

C'mon, that's not bling. It is nature at its majestic best.

[racoll]

In terms of cars, a RTC is a Bentley Continental GT

Nah, the Bentley Continental GT would be

Brachyplatystoma platynemum

The RTC is more like a chavved up Mondeo with tinted windows

[mummymonkey]

If we're going to compare it with a car then it's got to be this handsome fellow:

[Jools]

The RTC is more like a chavved up Mondeo with tinted windows

Well, that's another witty remark that puts it in the uncool band.

Jools

[Jools]

C'mon, that's not bling. It is nature at its majestic best.

Yeah, it is,100% agree. The problem is I, in all truth, feel exactly the same way about pretty much any catfish you show me.

Jools

[Carp37]

C'mon, that's not bling. It is nature at its majestic best.

Yeah, it is,100% agree. The problem is I, in all truth, feel exactly the same way about pretty much any catfish you show me.

I have a little difficulty feeling that way about cetopsids, but other than them, yes...

[wrasse]

racoll wrote:
The RTC is more like a chavved up Mondeo with tinted windows


Well, that's another witty remark that puts it in the uncool band.

Jools

You ARE jeremy clarkson after all. You've already made up your mind and won't be swayed - just like him.
What does Claire have to say on this subject???
OOPS! will this spark a domestic...

[Jools]

He he he, well, I can always be swayed but I do admit if it was entirely up to me this would be in the seriously uncool camp. I think it will end up in Uncool!

As to Clare, I have no idea, so I shall ask her next time I see her which will be Sunday.

Jools

[RickE]

You ARE jeremy clarkson after all. You've already made up your mind and won't be swayed - just like him.

I fear you are correct.

But... How about: It's the only member of its genus. That has to be cool. And, it has a very cool latin name: Phractocephalus Hemioliopterus. Just saying it is a pleasurable experience.