My only Monster - Apure Jelly Catfish

CrazyPhishMan

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In terms of size, is it not likely that there is sexual dimorphism? seems that, in catfish atleast, its not uncommon for females to vastly outpace males.

I have an apurensis i received from Rapps in like 2017/2018 and its only about 11" long 4" wide but i assumed it was misidentified or male
 

Yellowcat

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There is the sexual dimorphism factor but not that extreme in L. Apurensis. At the time mentioned, Jeff was bringing in batrochoglanis species from Colombia and were batrochoglanis villosus. Max size for them is around 11". Kevin @ T.U.I.C., now owner, has some batrochoglanis in stock now from the same region in Colombia. If you were to post a photo of your fish, someone on here can likely tell if your fish is lophiosilurus or batrochoglanis...
 

CrazyPhishMan

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I just found my thread with Jeff from that order, it was actually March of 2019. So not nearly as long ago as I thought.
It was bought as and sold as:
Cephalosilurusapurensis6-7"
100​
orange & black marbled Colombian 'Apure jelly cats'; ultimate pet catfish - interactive, not shy, lg mouth & appetite
 

jjohnwm

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They are always smiling; they are bad-asses and they know it...:)

Now, I've only ever seen three of these in person, including the two I have owned...but I've looked at a ton of pics of them since learning about them, and I have never seen one so completely greyish-blackish. They have always exhibited some tones of brown/orange/yellow as the base colour in their mottled pattern. This one, compared to most pictured and certainly compared to mine, is downright slim and sleek; they're usually built like tanks rather than race cars. How about it, cat-guys? Is this an apurensis?
 

thebiggerthebetter

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It does look to me like a Lophiosilurus fka Cephalosilurus. Kind of too flat, reminds of fowleri but they don't live in Colombia, they live in Southern-Central Brazil, plus the color is wrong, fowleri has much yellow.

I'll wait for Kirk.

If this fish was bought at 6"-7" in March 2019, it makes it around 4 years old today. If it is only 11" today, then I am stumped at this point. Despite the strong underbite, perhaps it is one of those never-imported albomarginatus or nigricaudus, which may grow smaller. In which case, Kirk would give you an arm and a leg, a kidney and part liver for this fish.
 

CrazyPhishMan

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ill scoop him up into a Tupperware or bucket when i get home for better photos. definitely not orange, blacker and tanner. has eaten 6" cichlids in the past which is why they now live alone.
 

Yellowcat

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I believe it it to be L. Apurensis despite it's unusually dark pigmentation. without a clear profile shot and possible camera angle distortion it also does seem to have slimmer body proportions making me think it may be a male fish, even then an undersized specimen for it's age but then my fish was a female so no experience with a male of this species. Nothing else in the genera looks the same other than L. fowleri. As Viktor stated, the other species in the group like L. Nigricaudus (Guyana), L. Albomarginatus (Suriname) smallest, and L. Fowleri and L. Alexandri both from the Rio Sao Francisco in southern Brazil- banned from export for over a decade. Quick note: L. Alexandri still banned but recently L. Fowleri now permitted for export from Brazil! Anyway, I've talked with Jeff Rapps before he sold the store, much respect and trust for his knowledge so no doubt about the fish's origin. Most L. Apurensis come from Venezuela, The Apure and Orinoco River systems, Many tributaries of the Orinoco exist in northeastern Colombia so the species should be the same. Pseudopimelodid's are relatively easy to determine the sex, similar to sexing many synodontis', bagrid, ilacturids and others as well. First one must flip the fish over on it's back using net, Tupperware what have you, then closely observe the "naughty bits" or the ventral area, take a close up photo if possible. With male fish there will be a pointed V shaped genital papillae at the forward end of the orifice. In Females the genital papillae is usually smaller and rounded in shape rather than distinctly 'V' shaped. If I recall correctly, males typically have one orifice, female will have two, an anus and an oviduct at the forward position. To summarize, I think the fish in question is apurensis and not a batrochoglanis species, could it be some kind of rare, yet undescribed species? Possibly but very unlikely methinks. As Viktor suggested, not inclined to give up any organs anytime soon but would pay dearly and buy a new tank for a Lophiosilirus Albomarginatus...
 

thebiggerthebetter

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Thank you Kirk for this authoritative and educational input!

In my weak defense, I didn't specify whose body parts and organs you'd give for this fish... I used the indefinite article "an"...
 
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