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The Synodontis group have long barbels and long-based adipose fins. The dorsal fins are often large but not always displayed to best advantage. The caudal fins are deeply forked. A generic characteristic is the possession of lockable spines in the pectoral and dorsal fins, which may be erected when the fish is netted or driven into a hiding place.

Polka Dot African Catfish Synodontis angelicus 190 mm 71 in. Africa : slow-moving waters. The young S. angelicus is very colourful, being violet with white dots. The adult form is grey with dark blotches. The fins are striped. Temperature:24^°C (75 F). Diet: live foods, especially worms, and vegetable matter. Breeding: not yet bred in the aquarium.

Synodontis flavitaeniatus 150 mm 6 in. Africa : various waters. A very striking fish, with a series of light- coloured wavy lines running along the dark body. The fins are patterned with dots. The dorsal fin has a cream leading edge; the caudal fin has cream, dark-bordered edges. Temperature: 24^°C (75^°F). Diet: as for

S. angelicus. Breeding: has been bred in the aquarium, but details unknown.

Upside-down Catfish ; Congo Backswimmer Synodontis nigriventris 90 mm 3 in. Central Africa : various waters. The body is gold- brown with numerous dark spots ; the fins are similarly marked. This species has a habit of swimming upside-down. To assist in its camouflage, the dark patterning is continued on the underside of the fish. Temperature: 24^°C (75^°F). Diet: should include greenstuffs. Will take food from water surface while upsidedown. Breeding: has been bred in the aquarium, but details unknown.

Family Pimelodidae

This family of unarmoured Catfishes is almost the South American equivalent to the African Mochokidae in appearance.

Spotted Pimelodella Pimelodus (formerlyPimelodella) pictus 110 mm 42 in. South America : various waters. An elongated fish of silvery-white colour with numerous black, oval dots on the flanks and caudal fin. The adipose fin is large, with a black tip. The other fins are black-marked to some degree. The barbels are very long. Nocturnal, but will adjust to a lighted aquarium, and has an acute sense of smell. Temperature: 24^°C (75^°F). Diet: worms, meat, meat- based flake foods. Breeding: no information available.

Glass Catfishes

Although from different families, the two genera of Catfishes described here resemble each other with their transparent bodies.

Three-striped Glass Catfish

Eutropiellus debauwi 70 mm 21 in. Central Africa : various waters. The body colour is blue-grey. Three dark, horizontal stripes run from behind the gill cover along the body; the central line runs through the caudal fin, and continuations of the upper and lower lines appear in the lobes. The anal fin is very long. The dorsal fin is small and carried near the front of the fish. An adipose fin is present. A very active shoaling fish that swims at an oblique angle. Temperature: 24^°C (75^°F). Diet: live foods preferred. Breeding: not yet bred in the aquarium.

Family Siluridae

Glass Catfish Kryptopterus bicirrhis 90 mm 3i in. Indonesia, Thailand : shallow waters. Has a totally transparent body with the internal organs enclosed in a silvery sac. The anal fin is very long, while the dorsal fin is reduced to a single ray. The caudal fin is forked and often asymmetric. Swims at an oblique angle, with the tail down. A not too active fish that prefers a peaceful tank and the company of a shoal. A similar species is the slightly larger Poor Man’s Glass Catfish (K. macrocephalus). Temperature: 24^°C (75^°C). Diet: live foods preferred. Breeding: not yet bred in the aquarium.

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This entry was posted on Sunday, October 12th, 2008 at 5:03 am and is filed under Fish, Tropical Fish, aquarium. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.