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One of the Synodontis species that has been hormone bred in eastern Europe. A mainstay of the genus in the hobby and has proved to be a long lived species (23 years for one of my individuals). Easy to identify as adult with its long fringed dorsal fin. Juveniles can be very different with mostly a marbled pattern to body. Description: Dorsal spines (total): 1; Anal spines: 0. Diagnosis: gill slits not extending ventrally beyond pectoral-fin insertions; eye large, its diameter 23-34.5% of head length and 48-75% of snout length; post-orbital length at least 60% of snout length; maxillary barbels unbranched, longer than head, without tubercles and bordered by a rather broad basal membrane restricted to their anterior thirds; outer mandibular barbels with simple, thin and rather long ramifications; branches of inner mandibular barbels shorter, subdivided and tuberculate; mandibular teeth slender and moderately long, numbering 39-62 (62 in the holotype); denticulations of pectoral-fin spines weak on outer margin and well developed on inner margin; dorsal-fin spine smooth anteriorly, except for a few apical denticles; humeral process triangular and not keeled ventrally; adipose fin well developed and rather close to rayed dorsal fin; branched dorsal-fin rays as well as dorsal and pectoral-fin spines prolonged into filaments; spots present on body and fins. Colouration: Body more or less dark brown. Back, sides, head and fins with few isolated small spots; depending on individuals, spots on fins more or less aligned in series; maxillary barbels (including membranes) black; fin filaments darker than fins themselves. Reproduction: Oviparous. Distinct pairing during breeding. Aquarium Care: Can sometimes be quarrelsome depending on the individual fish so would be better in a larger tank with other fish such as larger barbs and tetras such as the "Congo Tetra". Will try and establish itself as the boss of the tank, then once the hierarchy is sorted out things should settle down. Make sure there are plenty of hiding places for this fish so it does not feel under threat from the other tankmates. Diet: The adults will eat a wide variety of foods and that is the key to keeping Syno's fit and healthy, a wide varied diet. They will take flake, tablet food, prawns, shrimps, frozen bloodworm and vegetable foods such as cucumber and courgette.

Feather-Fin Catfish

Synodontis macrepipterus

Mochokidae

Africa: White Nile, Chad, Volta and Niger basins including the Bénoué. Type locality: Mouth of Lake No, White Nile.

16.5cm. (6½ins)

22-26°C (71-78°F)

6.2-7.5.

Gosse, J.-P., 1986. Mochokidae. p. 105-152. In J. Daget, J.-P. Gosse and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde (eds.) Check-list of the freshwater fishes of Africa (CLOFFA). ISNB, Brussels, MRAC, Tervuren; and ORSTOM, Paris. Vol. 2.
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2021. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, ( 02/2021 ).
ScotCat Factsheet no. 16. October 1997.
Seegers, L. 2008 The catfishes of Africa. A handbook for identification and maintenance. Aqualog Verlag A.C.S. GmbH, Germany. 604 p.