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Catfish
/ Mochocidae / White-Barred Synodontis
White-Barred Synodontis
Synodontis ornatipinnis | Pictures
Synonyms: S. zebra
Physical description: An elongated catfish with a large, forked tail. Three pairs of barbels extend from the mouth, including one long pair that are pointed downward. The base
body color is white to light gray with swirling patterns of black markings. This pattern continues on all flanks. The head is dotted with small, black spots. The
White-barred Synodontis has a large adipose fin.
Size/Length: To 12" (30 cm), although not usually more than 6" (15 cm) in aquaria.
Similar species: Brichard's Synodontis (S. brichardi), Decorated Synodontis (S. decorus)
Habitat: Western Africa; turbulent waters of the Zaire ( Congo) River.
S: bottom, middle
Aquarium: 48" (122 cm) or 55 gallons (210 L). The tank should have a strong current and have a dark, fine gravel substrate. Only use tough, robust plants for
this fish digs. For this reason an undergravel filter should not be used. This lighting should be dim. Provide open swimming areas and hiding places in the
corners of the tank.
Water chemistry: Use well-filtered water with a pH of 6-7.5 (7.0), dH 8-18 (12), 72-79°F (22-26°C)
Social behavior: An aggressive, intolerant fish which is highly territorial and preys on small fish. Keep only one fish per 40" (102 cm) of tank. Should only be combined
with other robust fish. A nocturnal species.
Suggested companions: West African cichlids, African tetras, Knifefish, Mormyrids
FOOD: Live; fish, snails, Brine Shrimp, mosquito larvae, Tubifex, crickets, other insects; tablets
Sexual differences: Unknown
Breeding techniques: Unknown
Breeding potential: 10. Breeding has not been accomplished in captivity.
Remarks: The colors of this fish fade with age.
Difficulty of care: 5. A large fish that will eat small tank mates. Its diet must include 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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