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Wow, 20 Rare Fish... Well, here's another one!

RFotW #20 -- Synodontis granulosus



Been a while since I've done a catfish, eh?

Synodontis granulosus is the rare one of the Mochokid clan. This fish is rarely seen in the aquarium trade and commands a high price. There are a number of reasons for this. One reason is that they aren't even that commonly seen in the wild. Another is that they primarily inhabit the deeper waters of their Tanganyikan home, which makes it a hard fish to go and catch.

Of course, the fish's price is further boosted by it's looks. S. granulosus is quite an attractive fish, with it's dark body and whiskers and fins edged in white. There body also has a nice sheen to it, and in younger specimens will have spots. The skin of this fish may have little granular like bumps (hence the scientific name). However, though the near foot-long adults are visibly striking and quite different from those of the other Tanganyikan Synos, the juveniles sometimes can be confused among the species, despite the difference of S. granulosus from it's relatives.

Like any Syno, this fish is quite an easy fish to raise. You give this fish good water, hiding places, and food (and lots of it!), and this fish will be quite a happy camper. Unfortunately, unlike a number of other Syno species, this fish has not been captive bred. Hopefully the future can bring these fish to breed in captivity and allow more aquarists to keep this beautiful fish.

So once again I will end this article with the price... Well, because of the rarity, this fish likes to catch itself a price between $300 and $500; I've seen it $400 recently but not much else.

Links:

[link=http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.cfm?ID=9567&genusname=Synodontis&speciesname=granulosus]http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.cfm?ID=9567&genusname=Synodontis&speciesname=granulosus" style="COLOR: #40FFFF[/link]

[link=http://www.planetcatfish.com/cotm/2003_01.php]http://www.planetcatfish.com/cotm/2003_01.php" style="COLOR: #40FFFF[/link] Erm, actually most of the info comes from this page in much better language than my own.

Past RFOTW:
1. [link=Polynemus paradiseus -- Paradise threadfin]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/The%20Recovery%20Room/46807.html" style="COLOR: #40FFFF[/link]
2. [link=Anableps anableps -- Four-Eyed Fish]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/The%20Recovery%20Room/47270.html" style="COLOR: #40FFFF[/link]
3. [link=Hypancistrus zebra -- Zebra Plec]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/The%20Recovery%20Room/47753.html?200409261201" style="COLOR: #40FFFF[/link]
4. [link=Potamotrygon sp. -- Pearl Ray]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/The%20Recovery%20Room/47753.html?200409261201" style="COLOR: #40FFFF[/link]
5. [link=Merodontotus Tigrinus -- Tigrinus Catfish, Zebra Shovelnose]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/The%20Recovery%20Room/48196.html?200410031445" style="COLOR: #40FFFF[/link]
6. [link=Rhinopias aphanes -- Merlet's Scorpionfish, Lacy Scorpionfish]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/The%20Recovery%20Room/48511.html?200410101249" style="COLOR: #40FFFF[/link]
7. [link=Tetraodon pustulatus]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/The%20Recovery%20Room/48859.html?200410171215" style="COLOR: #40FFFF[/link]
8. [link=Astronotus orbicularis -- Bumblebee Oscar]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/The%20Recovery%20Room/49209.html?200410241022" style="COLOR: #40FFFF[/link]
9. [link=Parambassis pulcinella -- Rhino Glassfish, Humphead Glassfish]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/The%20Recovery%20Room/49556.html?200410312127" style="COLOR: #40FFFF[/link]
10. [link=Lepisosteus platyrhincus -- Golden Florida Gar]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/The%20Recovery%20Room/49807.html?200411070900" style="COLOR: #40FFFF[/link]
11. [link=Polyodon spathula -- Missippi Paddlefish]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/The%20Recovery%20Room/50120.html?200411141732" style="COLOR: #40FFFF[/link]
12. [link=Pterois radiata -- Radiata Lionfish, Clearfin Turkeyfish]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/The%20Recovery%20Room/50432.html?200411211707" style="COLOR: #40FFFF[/link]
13. [link=Panaque suttonorum, Panaque suttoni -- Blue Eyed Plec]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/The%20Recovery%20Room/50738.html?200411281544" style="COLOR: #40FFFF[/link]
14. [link=Potamotrygon sp. -- P14, Itaituba Ray]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/The%20Recovery%20Room/51100.html?200412051413" style="COLOR: #40FFFF[/link]
15. [link=Brachyplatysoma juruense -- Juruense Catfish, False Tigrinus, Alianza Cat]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/The%20Recovery%20Room/51430.html?200412121807" style="COLOR: #40FFFF[/link]
16. [link=Neoceratodus forsteri -- Australian Lungfish, Queensland Lungfish]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/The%20Recovery%20Room/54184.html" style="COLOR: #40FFFF[/link]
17. [link=Paracheirodon simulans -- False Neon Tetra, Green Neon Tetra]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/The%20Recovery%20Room/54737.html?200502131642" style="COLOR: #40FFFF[/link]
18. [link=Osphronemus laticlavius -- Red Tailed Giant Gourami]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/The%20Recovery%20Room/55197.html?200502211654" style="COLOR: #40FFFF[/link]
19. [link=Osphronemus exodon -- Elephant Ear Gourami]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/The%20Recovery%20Room/55197.html?200502211654" style="COLOR: #40FFFF[/link][/font]

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The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.

very cool fish, i want one


checks wallet, and only see's moths fly out




rabbit:88)

Hopefully someone will crack the captive breeding secret for these guys. Because they are superb catfish. Congratulations on another winner, Shini!

Incidentally, 20 years ago Synodontis flavitaeniatus commanded a ridiculous price - something like £500 here in the UK ($750 US at current exchange rates). And that price was charged was in an era when the exchange rate was nearer $2 to the pound. Now it's possible to get flavitaeniatus for something like £25 each. BIG difference.

Just hpoe we don't have to wait 20 years for the price of granulosus to fall similarly!

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002