Another Catfish Id Help Please

[phillippa42]

OK, I did something really daft today that I've never done before. Fell in love with a fish, no idea what it is - fish shop said it was a "leopard catfish". Was in a tank with other catfish which were different even though shop man was trying to insist they were all the same. Pics aren't the greatest, but best I can do. Its about the size of a bronze cory, has 1 pair of short barbels. Shop reckoned it will grow to 4" ? Thanks

 

[The-Wolf]

looks like a syno of some kind
possibly synodontis decorus

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Yeah it does look like synodontis decorus, but its difficult say from the fins of the fish in the pics;

http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/speci...p?species_id=84

If it is synodontis decorus, then it'll grow to around 10.6 inches long.

 

[phillippa42]

Ok, had a closer look after checking the planetcatfish website. Don't think its a decorus as there's no long filament on the dorsal fin.

Mine actually has 2 pairs of barbels not one as I first thought. The main pair is short, other pair very short.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Ok, had a closer look after checking the planetcatfish website. Don't think its a decorus as there's no long filament on the dorsal fin.

Mine actually has 2 pairs of barbels not one as I first thought. The main pair is short, other pair very short.

The only other syno type catfish i know of that look similar to yours are;
White Polli Syno, Zambia White Syno;

http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/speci...species_id=1315

A type of hybrid syno;

http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/speci...?species_id=696

The cuckoo catfish/syno;

http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/speci...p?species_id=95

Synodontis katangae

http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/speci...?species_id=545

The problem with syno's is that they can vary a lot in colour and placement of patterning with age, but i think it is fairly likely that yours could be one of the types i listed above.
edit: it could also posibly be Synodontis ocellifer;

http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/speci...?species_id=551

 

[phillippa42]

Ok thanks. Guess I will have to keep an eye on it and hope it doesn't grow to big for my tank - if it does I'll pass it on to a better home. Also keep finegrs crossed it's not aggressive when bigger.

It just swam upside down just under the surface! Its very nice whatever it is.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Ok thanks. Guess I will have to keep an eye on it and hope it doesn't grow to big for my tank - if it does I'll pass it on to a better home. Also keep finegrs crossed it's not aggressive when bigger.

It just swam upside down just under the surface! Its very nice whatever it is.

As it grows larger it should become a lot easier to ID- keep on trying to find out its indentity though as different types of syno's can can differnet dietry requirements and will also grow to different sizes and have different temperments. What have you fed it so far?

 

[phillippa42]

ok, only got it this afternoon and haven't seen it interested in any food yet. I've just stuck the usual flakes, tiny pellets (tetras), small pellets (for my loaches) and algae flakes in. I've got some dried blood worm so can try it on those tomorrow. Do I need proper catfish pellets? Thanks, you're all very helpful.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

ok, only got it this afternoon and haven't seen it interested in any food yet. I've just stuck the usual flakes, tiny pellets (tetras), small pellets (for my loaches) and algae flakes in. I've got some dried blood worm so can try it on those tomorrow. Do I need proper catfish pellets? Thanks, you're all very helpful.

Glad to help .
A lot of syno's have a largely insectivorous type diet and will thrive off things like bloodworms, krilll, brineshrimp, daphinia etc- frozen of live foods are better than dried ones, but the syno should be still able to accept a variety of differently prepared foods. A lot of syno's will also consume algae, so algae wafers can play an important part in their diet too .