Synodontis

Aquarium enthusiasts often choose Synodontis catfish because of their distinctive look and lively disposition. These freshwater fish add a hint of exotica to home aquariums; they are native to the rivers and lakes of Africa. Synodontis are an excellent choice for novice and expert aquarists alike because of their unusual upside-down swimming and complex patterns. They are also comparatively easy to maintain.

Synodontis has a large range of species, so there is something for every kind of fishkeeper. While some grow larger and need more specialized care, others are calm and small, ideal for community tanks. Whichever species they belong to, these catfish are renowned for being resilient and adaptive, living well in a variety of water conditions.

Apart from their remarkable appearance, Synodontis are also appreciated for their actions. Their primary mode of behavior is nocturnal; they frequently hide during the day and become more active at night. As they rummage through the substrate in search of food, their scavenging habits can aid in maintaining the cleanliness of the aquarium. For aquarium owners wishing to add something different and useful, Synodontis is a favorite because of its attractiveness, behavior, and usefulness.

Synodontis Species Key Features
Synodontis nigriventris Known for swimming upside down, making it unique among catfish.
Synodontis multipunctatus Famous for its parasitic breeding behavior, often using cichlids to incubate its eggs.
Synodontis eupterus Also called the featherfin squeaker, it has striking fin extensions that give it a feathery appearance.
Synodontis petricola A small, peaceful species often kept in groups, known for its spotted pattern.

Habitat of synodontis

The fish inhabit the basins of the Congo, Niger, Nile, Zambezi, Ivindo rivers, lakes Chad, Malawi, Tanganyika, Victoria, Tana, and Rukwa, as well as the reservoirs of Central, East, and West Africa. There are 131 species in the genus Synodontes. In 1950, synodontis were introduced to Europe. These days, Zaire (also known as the "Congo"), the rift lakes, and West Africa—primarily Nigeria—are the fish’s primary sources.

Description of synodontis

The body of a synodontis is cylindrical and flat on the sides and beneath. The fish has a big head and three pairs of whiskers on its lower jaw. There are sharp spines on the dorsal and pectoral fins, and getting an injection hurts. Depending on the species, synodontis can have a variety of colors, including light yellow, brown, gray-beige, and others. There are dark patches all over the body, excluding the belly.

Picture of Synodontis catfish

The fish in an aquarium serve as the "orderlies." Schools are home to catfish. They prefer to hide in various types of shelters during the day, and they swim at night to find food.

How come synodotis rotates?

The most information you can find about Yandex and this request when you google it is that it is purportedly a method for assisting fish in capturing insects on the water’s surface.

However, why? Why give up so easily? To begin with, let’s acknowledge that every typical fish has a swim bladder. The fish uses its circulatory system to fill the bladder with air when it needs to surface. The fish releases its bladder in order to sink.

Our peculiar catfish has a swim bladder as well. And if it so chooses, it can swim just like any other fish.

What use does it then make to constantly be inverted? The main idea is that fish have an issue known as wave resistance when they are near the water’s surface.

However, if the fish swims belly up, it shakes the water considerably less, which makes it easier for it to graze without growing fatigued. In the event of a predator attack, this conserves energy. Furthermore, the fish breathes more easily and pleasantly near the water’s surface because there is more oxygen there.

Additionally! Look, the belly of this catfish has a dark spot.

Synodontis nigriventris is its scientific name; the species prefix nigriventris means "black belly" in translation. And this is the opposing aspect of a typical fish’s camouflage. The belly of a shark, for instance, is white, but its hump is black.

Sinodontis is a creature of its environment, with its dark belly acting as a shield against intruders.

Everyone! The reversals’ secret is revealed. We then advise you to watch our video, in which we have expertly illustrated everything mentioned above.

Conditions for keeping synodontis

Picture of Synodontis catfish

Medium-sized 150–200 liter aquariums with a variety of shelters (stones, snags, etc.) are used to house these catfish. Most plants have broad leaves, such as Cryptocorynes and Echinodorus. While synodontis prefer moderate lighting, small-leaved and whimsical plants are not appropriate because they require intense lighting. Lamp power recommendations are 0.5 watts per liter (~50 lm / l).

Aeration and water filtration should be included when setting up an aquarium. Good fish keeping practices involve periodically switching out some of the water with fresher.

Picture of Synodontis catfish

You can keep Synodontis with any peaceful species of fish that is comparable in size. In African cichlids, many species coexist peacefully alongside Malawians and Tanga.

Complex reproduction necessitates gonadotropic drug injections. We talked about this procedure in our video as well; watch.

The condition of the habitat an aquarium pet lives in is arguably the most crucial aspect of its upkeep. Nitrogen compounds, such as phosphates, nitrite and nitrate, and ammonia/ammonium, should not be present in the aquarium in excess. It is crucial to correctly adjust the filtration and aeration for this. Making timely water changes is crucial. If nothing else, every responsible aquarist should always carry a set of drip tests, preferably for phosphate and nitrate. Thankfully, they are now reasonably priced, and there are no issues with their acquisition or variety. You can get cheap Vladox tests in offline stores in your city.

Som synodontis image

In addition, you all know what kind of water flows from our tap. Chlorine-containing compounds, heavy metals and other delights of the water utility do not have the best effect on the health of fish and the aquarium as a whole. The lag of tap water does not particularly solve this problem. Therefore, when changing water, it is advisable to use conditioners that block these harmful substances. For example, Tetra AquaSafe – we discussed this drug in detail in this article. Here we will say briefly – it blocks chlorine compounds, heavy metals + contains B vitamins, iodine, magnesium, plant extracts. T.e. with it you can safely pour water into the aquarium, without fear of harming your beloved pets.

The reputable FF online retailer Aqua Logo Shop is where you can buy the medications, gear, and other helpful items for an aquarist that were mentioned above. We advise against it!

What to feed synonontis

Like many catfish, synonontis have no particular food preferences. In the wild, they consume anything that moves, dies, or simply falls into their mouths. They consume plant matter, insects, and their larvae.

For synodontis in aquarium settings, you can use almost any brand of food; however, Tetra Tablets TabiMin are ideal for individual feeding of bottom fish.

It is important to remember that when purchasing any dry food, you should first check the manufacturing and expiration dates, avoid purchasing food in bulk, and store it in a closed container to prevent the growth of harmful flora.

Aquarium enthusiasts favor synodontis catfish because of their unusual look, calm demeanor, and adaptability to a range of tank conditions. By scavenging leftover food and debris, these resilient bottom-dwellers not only add visual interest with their striking patterns and whisker-like barbels, but they also play a vital role in maintaining the cleanliness of the aquarium.

Types of synodontis

MULTIPUNCTATUS SYNODONTIS (BOULENGER, 1898)

CUCKOO CATFISH OR SYNODONTIS MULTIPUNCTATUS

The CCKOO catfish is a type of synodontis.

Habitat: Lake Tanganyika, one of the Rift Lakes; Maintenance difficulties: none at all; The aquarium’s water parameters are as follows: t 23–28 C, pH 7.0–8.0, and dH up to 20; Life expectancy: ten years or more; aquarium size: at least 80 liters, with lots of hiding places; Maximum length of body: 15 cm; Conduct: Calm; Omnivorous diet.

One of the most famous species of synodontis. This handsome fellow comes from Lake Tanganyika in Africa. The fish has a strong, stocky, slightly elongated and laterally flattened body. The head is formed by a lower mouth with 3 pairs of antennae and large eyes. The dorsal fin of the synodontis is multi-spotted, triangular in shape and relatively small in size, and the adipose fin is quite large. The back of the fins is colored light blue. The caudal fin has strongly developed lobes, which are decorated with a black border. The multi-spotted synodontis has a light yellow color with numerous black spots. Males are distinguished by a brighter color and a higher dorsal fin.
It has a peaceful nature, but it is not recommended to keep it with small fish. It gets along well with larger fish, African cichlids. Young individuals exhibit a schooling nature, later they begin to give preference to their territory. Under natural conditions, the cuckoo catfish feeds exclusively on snails. However, snails are not necessary in an aquarium, as the fish gets used to dry food well.
This species of fish got its second name due to its method of spawning. Synodontis multispotted lays its eggs exactly at the moment when another fish species, for example cichlids, take their eggs in their mouth for incubation. The eggs of catfish are mixed with the eggs of cichlids and are carried by other parents. Foundling fry grow together with young cichlids and sometimes feed on them.

NIGRIVENTRIS SYNODONTIS (DAVID, 1936)

BLACK BELLY CATFISH

Zaire is the habitat; Maintenance difficulties: none at all; The aquarium’s water parameters are: t 24–27 C; pH 6.8–7.0; dH 10; Lifespan: ten years or more; Aquarium size: at least 50 liters, ideally twice as much; Males up to 6 cm in length, females up to 10 cm in length; Conduct: Calm; Omnivorous diet.

The fish"s body color is brown with small dark spots. The body is stocky, somewhat flattened on the sides. The back is more convex than the abdomen, the eyes are large, the mouth is lower with three pairs of barbels, the caudal fin is two-lobed. The dorsal fin is triangular in shape and has a powerful first ray. Large adipose fin. Individuals of this variety spend a significant part of their time upside down. In their natural habitat, upside-down fish swim in large schools consisting of thousands of individuals. Therefore, it is recommended to purchase at least three fish. This will allow you to observe the natural group behavior of upside-down fish.

GAMBIAN SYNODONTIS SYNODONTIS GAMBIENSIS

West Africa is the habitat; Easy maintenance challenges Maximum length of body: 30 cm; Behavior: Occasionally hostile; Omnivorous diet.

This species of fish is easily identified by its uniform gray color. The antennae and the ventral side of the body are both pale. The caudal fin has multiple hazy dark stripes.

OCELLIFER SYNODONTIS

OCELLIFER SYNODONTIS

An ocellifer species of synodontis

West Africa is the habitat; Simpleness of maintenance: Maximum length of body: 50 cm; Maximum lifespan: 20 years; Conduct: Calm; Omnivorous diet.

This species of synodontis has a light gray color, occasionally covered in a yellowish coating. Large, round, black spots cover the body. Adults may have a white mark in the middle of every dark area. Because the fish has a large fin with sharp spines on its back, it is best to use glass or plastic containers instead of bags when transporting the fish. The ocellated synodontis’s attractive appearance and low maintenance requirements have become its main selling points.

EUPTERUS SYNODONTIS

SYNODONTIS EUPTERUS OR VEIL

Veil: Synodontis species

West Africa is the habitat; Easy maintenance challenges More than fifteen years; body length of up to twenty centimeters; calm demeanor; Omnivorous diet.

The body of adult fish is gray with a yellow or purple tint, covered with small spots, in juveniles – covered with sinuous stripes. The dorsal fin looks veil-like already in juveniles. As the fish matures, the growth of the fins accelerates due to the lengthening of the soft rays and the membrane surrounding them. It is because of this feature that this species was nicknamed veil-fin synodontis (from English. Featherfin squeaker – a squeaker with feather-like fins).
The name comes from the Greek word "Syno", meaning "close" and "odontis", meaning "tooth" – related to the teeth of the lower jaw of the fish, located close to each other. The second attribute in the name "Eupterus", which means "Beautiful Wings" in Greek, refers to its dorsal fin.
Synodontis eupterus is a hardy fish and can adapt to a variety of conditions, making it ideal for beginner aquarists.
The fish can often be observed upside down under overhanging rocks or snags.

CHILTHUIS, 1891: SYNODONTIS ANGELICUS

SYNODONTIS ANGEL, STARRY SYNODONTIS

One kind of synodontis, angelic and starry

Zaire is the habitat; Average difficulty with maintenance; Aquarium water parameters: pH 6.5–6.8, dH 2–4, t 26–28 C; Lifespan: 15 years or more; Aquarium dimensions: 150 liters or more; maximum length of body: 25 cm; Behavior: Adults have a strong sense of territoriality, so it’s possible to witness fights with neighbors; Omnivorous diet.

Photos of this fish are published in many books and magazines. The price for this type of catfish reached 200-300 dollars per piece. Currently, their number has increased, and the price has fallen. Wild representatives of the starry synodontis are black with numerous white spots. There are several color variations of this species. Some individuals have yellow and blue spots. Instead of spots, winding stripes may appear. From time to time, fish with a brown background color appear in the population.
They should not be kept with small fish, because.. they may mistake them for food. Starry catfish love to dig in the ground, so it is necessary to use a fine-grained substrate. Plants must have a strong root system.

CONTRACT SYNODONTIS (VINCIGUERRA, 1928)

SYNODONTIS CONTRASTITUDE

Zaire is the habitat; Maintenance difficulties: none at all; Water parameters for aquariums: t 22–28 C; pH 6.5–7.0; dH 3–12; Lifespan: 15 years or more; Length of body: up to 10 cm; Conduct: Calm; Omnivorous diet.

One of the smallest representatives of synodontis. In appearance, it is similar to the upside-down Synodontis nigriventris. Individuals are painted beige-gray with dark coffee-colored spots alternating with light dots. The first ray of the dorsal and pectoral fins and tail with brown strokes. Mouth with a noticeably convex sucker. Calm, peaceful fish, love the movement of water, during the day they often stay in shelters and are most active at dusk. At night, they dig in the ground, can dig up plants. Do not like bright light, need shelter.
As in the case of Synodontis nigriventris, these catfish spend most of the time in an inverted state and swim in schools.
In nature, Synodontis contractus is an active algae eater, as a result of which the diet should contain plant components.

BOULENGER (1899) described Synodontis Decorus.

SYNODONTIS FLAG

Flag of the species Synodontis

Zaire is the habitat; Easy maintenance challenges Water parameters for aquariums: t 23–28 C, pH 6.5–7.5, dH up to 20; Maximum lifespan of fifteen years; aquarium size: at least 100 liters with lots of hiding places; Maximum length of body: 30 cm; Peaceful behavior and an omnivorous diet.

Synodontis flag is one of the most beautiful representatives of the genus synodont. This catfish moves gracefully wagging its long black dorsal fin. Young specimens (5-6 cm) available for sale are very beautiful, but this is only a hint of their future beauty, which blossoms as they grow older.
Synodontis flag has a stocky, elongated and slightly compressed from the sides body. There are spines on the dorsal and lateral fins. Large eyes. Lower mouth with 3 pairs of whiskers. Large adipose fin. Okra – large black spots scattered on a light background with a silvery tint. Back is brownish. Abdomen is light. The head of the synodontis is dotted with small black specks. The main decoration of the fish is the filiformly elongated first ray of the dorsal fin (with age, a braid appears on it) and a neat lyre of the tail. Sexual differences: the male is brighter, slimmer and smaller than the female.
Flag synodontis is a very calm, peaceful and schooling fish. It should not be kept in the same aquarium with small fish, as well as with fish that have an open wound on their body (synodontises can eat this place). Flag synodontis should be kept away from fish that like to feast on other people"s fins. Long the dorsal fin appendage is a primary target not only for cichlids.

NOTES ON SYNODONTIS (VAILLANT, 1893)

ONE-SPOTTED OR BLUE SYNODONTIS

Blue Synodontis species

Zaire is the habitat; Easy maintenance challenges Water parameters for aquariums: t 22–25 C, pH 6.5–7.5, dH 8–18; Lifespan: 15 years or more; Aquarium capacity: 150 liters or more, with lots of hiding places; Maximum length of body: 25 cm; Behavior: They are occasionally hostile; Omnivorous diet.

The blue or single-spotted synodontis looks really pretty. Its abdomen is white, and its body and head are gray-brown. Around the midline of the body are one to five round, black spots. There might not be an equal number of spots on each side of the body. Some people have spots on one side only, or none at all. When single-spotted synodontis are young, they are very gregarious and peaceful, but as they get older, they start acting aggressively and territorially toward other synodontis as well as members of their own species. It is recommended to keep with larger fish, such as West African cichlids.

NJASSAE SYNODONTIS (KEILHACK, 1908)

A fascinating and varied group of freshwater species, synodontis catfish can add personality and practicality to your aquarium. They add value to any aquarist’s collection with their unusual behaviors (like swimming upside down) and ability to keep the tank clean.

Because of their general adaptability and hardiness, these catfish can thrive in a variety of tank environments. But knowing what they need, like the right tank mates and food, is essential to their health.

Synodontis provides a range of options to consider, regardless of your preferences for a more specialized species or a peaceful community member. These fascinating fish can flourish and become a prominent feature in your aquarium given the correct conditions.

Video on the topic

Synodontis veil – upside-down catfish

Synodontis catfish, why are you an upside-down catfish?

SYNODONTIS OR UPside-DOWN CATFISH. CARE AND MAINTENANCE IN THE AQUARIUM

What part of aquarium maintenance do you consider the most difficult?
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Ivan Kononov

Experienced aquarist with an emphasis on breeding and keeping exotic aquarium fish. Author of many articles and books on the topic of aquarium keeping. Always in search of new species and interesting solutions for home aquariums. I believe that an aquarium is not only a home decoration, but also a means of studying nature and its laws.

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