Synodontis

[Mbuniac]

I bought a Synodontis catfish from my local "worthless" pet store and was told it was a "Lace Cat" I've looked at lots of pictures and it doesn't look anything like the lace cat. If anything it looks like the upside down cat (Synodontis contractus). Will this cat be too small in my 125 gal. when the fish start growing to optimum size? I believe they only get 2" or so.
Thanks, Sam

[SGypsyMermaid]

i'm not familiar with that particular species of syno--but most of them do just fine with lake cichlids. the small size would only be a problem if there were a fish in the tank which could open its mouth wide enough to swallow him. :)

[Woot]

Synodontis are sometimes marked as "Lace Cats" when they don't know exactly what it is. I got 3 of the "Lace cats" from one of the local shops. I think they might be Nigrita. I do notice that they like to rest upside down like the "Upside down cats". The first one I got is getting pretty big, probably about 3.5" now. I keep mine in a 30 gallon with 3 yellow labs, 3 Hongi red tops, and 8 1.5" Kenyi youngins. No problems really, but I do see the big one defending a pastic rock overhang, that it likes to rest under most of the time. Like mentioned earlier, as long as it can't be swallowed whole by a big fish, it should be ok. They seem to be able to hold their own fairly well (at least mine do). Just make sure you have enough dark rock/cave hiding spots for them to hide in. If yours are anything like mine, they will probably be hiding most of the time. When I put the big one in the 55 gallon he/she never came out, and wasn't sure if it was even eating. I moved it back up to the 30 gallon, where it seems to like it more.

[SGypsyMermaid]

if you want to see your synos, keep them in small schools of about six, then they're not so shy.

[CichlidPete]

When I put a pair in my 75 they disappeared for weeks and would only come out at night. I even built a DIY nightlight for the tank so i could watch them. After about three months they started coming out in the daytime and now after 9 months they are out most of the time. They just are slow to become comfortable in their surroundings.

Pete

[Mbuniac]

If in fact it is a Syn. contractus, how many would be best for a 125 tank? I'm pretty sure this is Syn. contractus, it has various patches of shades of brown, tan, rust, etc. Lace Cat is basically spotted.
Thanks, Sam
Only a brave person keeps 10gal. tanks. They are sooooo much work!

[Noelemac]

I agree about the brave 10 gallon owners! I've got 2, but when I use them they are for fry and hostiles. Usually I'll just transfer water, subtrate, and since the filters are the same size a used filter to the 10 for no cycle time.

[catfishes]

I kept my S. contractus in a 55 gallon with several large fish (P. Johanni, Frontosa, Ceruleus) and didn't have a problem. His favorite places to hide were in an elbow nook of a piece of driftwood, and among the plastic plants that suction cup to the sides of the tank. Granted I didn't see him all that often, but he did come out from time to time for feeding.

[M_sfan87]

uh oh :shock: