Synodontis

[borissimo]

Hello

Just reading through a thread about a synodontis with an eye parasite on the tropical fish emergencies forum made me wonder about my own two synodontis.

They both have what looks like VERY slight cloudy eye - just a slight sort of glint in the eye as opposed to being very dark black. They are housed with a tank full of Malawi cichlids (whose eyes are bright and normal).

My question is, is this normal for syndontis?

Also they sometimes have a bit of a hard time with the cichlids - they are quite tough but have a hard time keeping hold of their spots in the rocks. Is there anything special I can do for them? I was thinking about putting a piece of wood in but I don't know if it will make any difference. Also any special treats in the way of food / vegetable?

Thanks

 

[Miss Wiggle]

do you know which species of syno it is you have?

my syno gobbles up all sorts of veg; cucumber, potatoe, peas and loves meaty treats like prawns too, i think a healthy balanced diet is pretty key to good health

(this post should probably be in the 'other catfish' section)

 

[borissimo]

Oops sorry.

I am pretty sure they are Eupteris.

I have put cucumber in the tank in the past but I haven't seen them eating it and the cichlids seem to prefer lettuce (the most expensive kind - Romaine!)

I will try cucumber again and some of the other veg you mentioned.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

looking on planet catfish they seem to like meaty food, try some bloodworms as well if you haven't already

 

[borissimo]

Yep, have given bloodworm - though it is a job to get it to down to the synos as the cichlids love it too.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

Yep, have given bloodworm - though it is a job to get it to down to the synos as the cichlids love it too.

tried target feeding them?

two methods

1 - melt the frozen bloodworm in a little tank water in a jug, get a pipette/syringe and suck some up. tip a load into the tank for the cichlids to feast on then put the syringe into the tank near to the syno and basicalyl squirt them out in his face, it'll take a couple of go's before he doesn't run away from your hand but will eventually work

2 - again melt the bloodworm as above and give some to the rest of the fish, get a straw/tube and put that pointing to where the syno is or his favourite cave, pour the bloodworm down it