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I think I have a feather fin Syno. Got him today afternoon and added him to my cichlid tank. He is just about 3 inches, and the other catfish tank mates are 2 striped Raphaels. In addition to the cats, I have a Convict, Texas, GT, Salvini and Jewel in the tank.

Good combo, bad combo? All fish are over 4 inches big.

Thanks,
Clowny.

i had mines with some fronts, but now mines is in with convicts, and small RDs, and their is no problem.

I guess it depends on the tank size really. I had one for about a year in a 55G with a pair of Convicts and I never hand any problems with it. I think a tank bigger than a 55 would be a better home for one though.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

I had a friend who had a jewel, it was one of the most aggresive cichlds I have personally ever seen. I don't claim to be a cichlid expert at all but 5 fairly aggresive to very aggreive cichlids in a 55g is heading toward trouble, for the syno's sake and the other cichlids, I would highly consider having a back up plan for the texas and the jewel if they turn aggresive.

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Billy was a scientist, Billy is no more. For what he thought was H20, was H2SO4

i have 3 in my 125usg with an oscar, a gt and a geophagus and i have no problems. just make sure they have plenty of hiding places and then say good bye to them as i rarley see mine at all.


chris

Synodontis eupterus is a lovely show fish. Big adults are supremely impressive.

Now for the news that might cause alarm bells to go off!

This fish can, if given space, reach 12 inches. At that size, your Cichlids probably won't trouble it. Not only that, but I wouldn't worry TOO much about compatibility with your Jewel Cichlids, because a quick check on the native ranges of both fishes shows that they overlap in the wild - which means that individuals of both species share the same waters. Most notably the Niger, Volta and Benoué River systems are mentioned as habitats for both the Jewel Cichlid and the Featherfin Syno.

Indeed, even at 3 inches, your Featherfin will be capable o flooking after itself. Give it some nice pieces of bogwood to use as a refuge, and chances are that it will select a prime piece of real estate among your bogwood pieces, then promptly tell your Cichlids to go take a hike if they try trespassing there! Though the Featherfin is not as downright aggressive as, say, the juggernaut Synodontis acanthomias, which is a bruiser that will tell Oscars where to get off (!!!), the Featherfin should still be capable of looking after itself in your Cichlid setup.

Featherfins can be somewhat messy feeders, and as they grow, may generate a fair degree of loading on your biofilter, but then if you're keeping rough and tumble Cichlids in there, you've probably already planned ahead for this! Once they start eating (and they don't usually require much persuading) they can shovel food down their gullets at a prodigious rate. The trick with bigger ones in particular is restricting their food intake so that they don't excrete partially digested food after gorging, which they can do if you let them. They're also VERY good at begging for food once they know you supply the goodies, and can be disarmingly difficult to resist once they put on the "begging puppy" display, which quite a few big Synos can do with surprising effectiveness ...

Oh, and to help your Featherfin adapt, if you have any areas in the aquarium that are shaded by floating plants, it will appreciate these.

Out of all your Cichilds in there, I'd say the ones most likely to cause trouble are the Salvinis - they can be little demons when they want to be, particularly if you end up with a breeding pair! The Green Terror would probably be next on the list, followed by the Texas Cichlid.

Oh, and you'd better make sure there's a surplus of bottom feeder real estate in the form of caves if you're going to keep your Featherfin with the Raphaels. They'll compete for prime sites, so make sure there's a surplus that keeps everyone happy!


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

Thanks for all of the replies and as usual, they have been of much help. I didnt know feather fins could get to 12 inches, and that means I might get into a spot of trouble with my cichlids. I know that the jewel will have to go because she is female and its only a matter of time that one of the males try to breed with her. I totally adore the salvini, but I suspect it is female too.

I have 3 pieces of wood in the tank and two rocks with holes, so the cats are all very happy, the only thing about the synos is that they come out only during feeding time

I am planning a bigger setup with maybe only 3 of the 5 cichlids I have. The convict, texas and salvini are constantly fighting with each other, if two are fighting, the third guy has to butt in and fight the other two

But then, with cichlids, what else can I expect. Luckily, they are not bothering the cats at the moment, however, the two synos hate each other. I was hoping they would get to only about 8 inches (atleast that is what some sites said on their profiles) so I went out and got 2. In any case, I have plans for a large future tank so I am hoping they dont grow too fast

My new job doesnt allow me any internet access , and I dont have a computer at home so once again, apologies for my late response.

When I got mine a while back I got two fro starters but they didn't seem to get a long so I had to return one of them.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

strange that yours beg for food and mine very rarley come out at all and i have had them for about 3 years now. Once in a while one will swim to the top and grab some food but that is a rare treat.


chris

Good to hear that you have a plan for the future
anywho Cali, do you have a pic of a 12 inch featherfin?

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Billy was a scientist, Billy is no more. For what he thought was H20, was H2SO4

Don't have a pic of such a beast, but I recall that at least one other FP member mentioned in the past having an 11 inch specimen ...

Fishbase also lists it as reaching 30 cm ... here ... but that is probably for wild specimens. However, given a large enough aquarium, I see no reason why a specimen can't reach that size in captivity.

This page on Synodontis has the following quote:

Cheaper Synodontis species, like the lace catfish, grow into a bulky foot-long, heater-busting
behemoth.

Chances are you won't see your eupterus reach that magnificent size unless you can give it 150 gallons or more, but the potential is definitely there.


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

The FF will be fine. I think you are a bit off on the size Cali. I've never seen or heard of a aquarium FF Syno past 9". Maybe you are confusing with the Syno Acanthomis which you mentioned prior. This type will reach 12-13" aqua/and up to 20" in wild. Ive never had a FF bigger than my Decorus or Notatus,which rarely get past 10". IME you can expect an 7-8" full grown FF Syno. We can never match nature in aquaria. Specimen that reach full "potential" in wild, are the strongest with great water conditions and unlimited food source. Hope this helps.

Yup, all of the info is very helpful. Now the only other problem I have is that the synos freak me out. They look like cockroaches floating in my tank in the dark what with those long whiskers and dark colouration