Synonyms: None Physical description: The High-fin Synodontis has a deep, stocky body. It has three pairs of barbels on its mouth. The body is gray to brown in color and covered in small dark spots. The fins also have spots. The dorsal stands is elongated and grows longer with age, as does the tail. Size/Length: To 6.5" (16 cm) Similar species: Feather-fin Synodontis (Synodontis eupterus), Spotfin Synodontis (Synodontis robbianus), Large-blotched Synodontis (Synodontis robertsi) Habitat: Western Africa; Stanley Pool of the Zaire (Congo) River in Zaire. S: bottom Aquarium: A 32" (81 cm) or 30 gallon (114 l) tank is sufficient, although larger tanks are preferred. The tank should be well-planted with a cover of floating plants to mute the lighting. Provide hiding places with rocks, caves, roots, and wood. Leave an open-swimming area. The substrate should be fine gravel or sand. Water chemistry: pH 6.9-8.5 (7.8), 12-30 dH (20), 77-82°F (25-28°C) Social behavior: A peaceful fish, recommended for a community tank. Does well with any sized companions over 2" (5 cm). Suggested companions: Mormyrids, Congo Tetras, West African cichlids, Gouramis, larger barbs. FOOD: Live; Tubifex, insect larvae, aquatic insects, crustaceans, earthworms; pellets; tablets; large flakes; algae Sexual differences: The body color of adult females fades to grayish brown. Males keep the spotted pattern. Breeding techniques: Unsuccessful. Breeding potential: 10. This Synodontis has not been bred in captivity. Remarks: This fish has the longest barbels of all of the Synodontis species. A diurnal fish. Difficulty of care: 2. A hardy catfish, whose diet should be occasionally supplemented with live foods. Recent articles about fish Overfishing may hurt Amazon forest trees (2/5/2008) Overfishing is reducing the effectiveness of seed dispersal by fish in the Brazilian Pantanal, reports Nature. The research suggests that fishing practices can affect forest health. Scientists find fish that literally lives in trees (10/17/2007) Scientists have found a fish that literally lives in trees, according to research published in The American Naturalist and highlighted in New Scientist Magazine. Piranhas originated when Amazon was flooded by seawater (12/4/2007) South America's piranha family of fish -- notorious as eaters of flesh -- can be traced back to a single ancestor which dispersed when the Amazon was flooded by seawater some five million years ago, report researchers from the Institut de Recherche Pour le Developpement (IRD). Today piranhas are exclusively freshwater fish found from the Orinoco River basin in Venezuela to the Parana in Argentina. |
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Copyright Rhett Butler 1994-2009 The copy for fish.mongabay.com was written in 1994-1995. Therefore some information such as scientific names may be out of date. For this, I apologize. Feel free to send corrections to me. |
