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his Mochokid is instantly recognisable by the very large maxillary barbels bearing a black membrane, from which its scientific name is derived, refering to the presence of a membrane on the barbels of this Synodontis. Was always known in the early years of the hobby as Hemisynodontis membranaceus with the monotypic genera by Bleeker in 1862 but it is now being excepted as Synodontis (Lévèque et al., 1992, Willoughby 1994 and Danke et al., 1999).

Synodontis membranaceus

In its native habitat this Syno spends a good bit of its time inverted at the water surface scooping up zooplankton and phyloplankton with its maxillary barbels, but in captivity it doesn't seem to do this as much as the food is probably readily available at all depths.

Synodontis membranaceeus not a colourful fish by any means with its grey/brown body colour and somewhat darker belly region, but it does have a charm all of its own when you see it out cruising the tank looking for its next feed.

Synodontis membranaceus - showing barbels

Above can be seen the impressive looking barbels on this species bearing a black membrane.

Moustache Catfish

Hemisynodontis membranaceus, Pimelodus membranaceus, Synodontis guentheri

Mochocinae

Africa: Chad, Niger (including the Bénoué) Senegal, Gambia and Volta basins; also the Nile in northern Africa. Type locality: Fl. Nil (Egypte).

35.5cm. (14½ins)

22-26°C (71-79°F)

6.5-7.5.

Mandibular Teeth; 8-18, usually 9-14. Wide membrane bordering the edge of the maxillary barbel, which is the one originating from the upper jaw. Body with large adipose fin is short and deep. Caudal fin forked. Gill rakers 59-65.

Adult: Ground colour of head; dark grey. Dorsal region and flanks; light to dark grey. Ventral region; dark grey to black. Dorsal and adipose fins; light to dark grey. Maxillary barbels; with a wide black membrane along their whole length. Mandibular barbels; with small black membranes on the ends.
Juvenile: As per the adult but with ill defined blotches on the body and with round dark spots on the rayed fins which form a more or less regular transverse series.

It is a peaceful and hardy fish even though it does grow quite big, but I have found that it really is a gentle giant. Do give it a decent size tank and I would suggest a 4ft being the minimum with an aquascape consisting of rockwork or pipes for it to retire too, and large plants such as Giant Valis (Vallisneria gigantea) that grow partly along the water surface, and then you could witness it eating in its inverted position.

Not recorded, but the females are somewhat fatter and bigger than the males.

The usual feeding for Synodontis species, being good quality flake food, tablet food, frozen bloodworm, shrimp and prawns. In its natural habitat it feeds on plankton and detritus. May also feed on surface insects, chironomid larvae, benthic crustaceans, and mollusks.

Synodontis: Ancient name for an undetermined fish from the Nile (Cuvier 1816).
membranaceus : Refers to the presence of a membrane on the barbels of this Synodontis.

Burgess, W.E. 1989 An atlas of freshwater and marine catfishes. A preliminary survey of the Siluriformes. T.F.H. Publications, Inc., Neptune City, New Jersey (USA). 784 p.
Northern Area Catfish Group; Information Sheet 01.

Photo Credits

© Danny Blundell