Synodontis alberti • Mochokidae • Cat-eLog • PlanetCatfish

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Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Synodontis alberti** Schilthuis, 1891
Common Name(s)	Albert's Syno
Type Locality	Kinshasa, Stanley Pool, upper Congo R., near Brazzaville, Zaire.
Pronunciation	sin oh don tiss - al BERT ee
Etymology	Synodontis: From the Greek syn, meaning together, and odontos, meaning tooth; in reference to the closely-spaced lower jaw teeth.
Species Information
Size	160mm (6.3") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	All species in the genus Synodontis have a hardened head cap that has attached a process (humeral process) which is situated behind the gill opening and pointed towards the posterior. The dorsal fin and pectoral fins have a hardened first ray which is serrated. Caudal fin is always forked. There is one pair of maxillary barbels, sometimes having membranes and occasionally branched. The two pairs of mandibular barbels are often branched and can have nodes attached. The cone-shaped teeth in the upper jaw are short. S-shaped and movable in the lower jaw. These fish produce audible sounds when disturbed rubbing the base of the pectoral spine against the pectoral girdle. Easily distinguished from other Mockokids by its long maxillary barbels and, relative to head size, large eyes.
Sexing	First lay the fish in your hand with its head toward your palm and the tail toward your fingers. Hold the dorsal spine between your middle and ring finger so the fish is belly up and you won't get stuck (Which by the way, hurts like crazy!). The genital pore is in a small furrow of tissue (in healthy fish) and will be obstructed by the pelvic fins. Pull down on the tail gently to arch the fishes spine and the pelvic fins will stand and the furrow open to display the genital pore and the anus of the fish. The male has a somewhat ridged genital papillae on which the spermatoduct is on the back side, facing the tail fin. A gravid female will also show an extended papillae but the oviduct is on the ventral side of the papillae (And may also show a little redness if really gravid). A thin or emaciated female will have just two pink pores, the oviduct and the anus.
Habitat Information
Distribution	Democratic Republic of the Congo around Stanley Pool; Kinshasa; Ubunghi-Banziville; Lukulu river, Katanga African Waters , Congo (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there) African Waters , Congo, Lukulu (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there)
pH	6.0 - 8.0
Temperature	21.0-25.0°C or 69.8-77°F (Show others within this range)
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Sinking catfish pellets and bloodworm. The fish will also use the teeth in its lower jaw to scrape algae from rocks and the aquarium glass. Not a prolific algae eater however.
Furniture	Needs a rounded substrate. This species prefers wood to rocks. Plants are not required but seem to encourage daytime forays out with the mandatory cave / refuge.
Compatibility	Reportedly a loner, but so seldom available in numbers it would be difficult to establish a group in the aquarium. Will not eat healthy smaller fish, tankmates at around 1'' are safe with an adult. Will fight other catfish for a secure and dark refuge.
Suggested Tankmates	Most medium sized community fish. Will investigate and likely stress timid species with its unusually long barbels during the night.
Breeding	Unreported.
Further Information
References	Tijdschr. Ned. Dierk. Ver. Ser. 2v. 3 - pp88
Registered Keepers	(1) synoguy (k: 2), (2) clunkster, (3) synodont_fan (k: 2), who also notes: "I like the long whiskers and the high dorsal fin. Mine are pretty mild mannered even at 5 inches.", (4) Moonwrap, (5) Redcatman, (6) V, (7) kvnbyl, (8) Junttis (k: 2), (9) jb92, (10) Dinyar, (11) derrickrscott, (12) tezr, (13) Moomoo, (14) jippo (k: 6), (15) naturalart, who also notes: "Great fish. Does alot of nocturnal swimming after waterchanges. Eats all types of foods: tablet,frozen,live. Never saw it even interested in very small fish but able to defend itself against a slightly smaller S. angelicus male it was briefly housed with.", (16) MatsP (k: 4), (17) Viktor Jarikov, who also notes: "very pretty, not shy; looks genuine; about 3 inches", (18) fuzzytigerbird, (19) scleropages (k: 6), (20) Birger (k: 5), (21) Miss Dib Dabs, (22) syno-kev, who also notes: "large fish won best in class , approx 7 - 8 inches long", (23) Taz. Click on a username above to see all that persons registered catfish species. You can also view all "my cats" data for this species. Add this species to your "my cats" page.
Breeding Reports	None.
More Resources	- CotM 1998 February - Search Planet Catfish for more on Synodontis alberti - BBcode (for use in linking to this page from forum posts) - Look up Synodontis alberti on AquaticRepublic.com - Look up Synodontis alberti on Fishbase, I.T.I.S. or ispecies search. - URL (for use in linking to the species from anywhere on the web)
Hits	16851 hits.
Last Update	2005 Oct 06 00:00 (species record created: 2001 Apr 21 00:00)

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