/mochokidae/synodontis/ocellifer/1.jpg "Synodontis ocellifer(1) - Click to enlarge")
/mochokidae/synodontis/ocellifer/2.jpg "Synodontis ocellifer(2) - Click to enlarge")
/mochokidae/synodontis/ocellifer/3.jpg "Synodontis ocellifer(3) - Click to enlarge")
/mochokidae/synodontis/ocellifer/4.jpg "Synodontis ocellifer(4) Group - Click to enlarge")
/mochokidae/synodontis/ocellifer/5.jpg "Synodontis ocellifer(5) Juvenile - Click to enlarge")
/mochokidae/synodontis/ocellifer/6.jpg "Synodontis ocellifer(6) Juvenile - Click to enlarge")
/mochokidae/synodontis/ocellifer/7.jpg "Synodontis ocellifer(7) Juvenile - Click to enlarge")
/mochokidae/synodontis/ocellifer/8.jpg "Synodontis ocellifer(8) Juvenile - Click to enlarge")
/mochokidae/synodontis/ocellifer/9.jpg "Synodontis ocellifer(9) Close-up of head - Click to enlarge")
/mochokidae/synodontis/ocellifer/10.jpg "Synodontis ocellifer(10) Close-up of spots on mature fish - Click to enlarge")
/mochokidae/synodontis/ocellifer/11.jpg "Synodontis ocellifer(11) Close-up of mouth - Click to enlarge")
/mochokidae/synodontis/ocellifer/12.jpg "Synodontis ocellifer(12) - Click to enlarge")
/mochokidae/synodontis/ocellifer/13.jpg "Synodontis ocellifer(13) Farm raised - Click to enlarge")
/mochokidae/synodontis/ocellifer/14.jpg "Synodontis ocellifer(14) Farm raised - Click to enlarge")
 Cat-eLog Data Sheet | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Synodontis ocellifer Boulenger, 1900 |
| Common Name(s) | None |
| Type Locality | Kunchow Cr., Gambia R., w. Africa. |
| Pronunciation | sin oh don tiss - awe CELL if err |
| Etymology | Synodontis: From the Greek syn, meaning together, and odontos, meaning tooth; in reference to the closely-spaced lower jaw teeth. ''ocellifer'', having little eyes, from ''ocellus'', diminutive of ''oculus'', eye and "ifer" meaning "to carry". In reference to the black spots (possibly with white centers) found on the flanks of this species. |
| Species Information | |
| Size | 200mm (7.9") 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. Pale yellowish-brown body with black spots. Some specimens have lighter background coloration or minimal spotting. The characteristic to look for when comparing with other similar spotted species is the adipose fin. In S. ocellifer is is very long running almost from caudal to dorsal fin. |
| Habitat Information | |
| Distribution | West Africa, various river basins from Senegal to Chad (Senegal, Gambia, Volta, Chad, Niger basins) African Waters  , Sénégal (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there)African Waters , Chad (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there)African Waters , Volta (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there)African Waters , Gambia (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there)African Waters , Nigeria Rivers, Niger (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there) |
| pH | 6.2 - 8.0 |
| Temperature | 23.0-28.0°C or 73.4-82.4°F (Show others within this range) |
| Husbandry Information | |
| Feeding | Omnivore. As with other Synodontis, but with a little more meat. |
| Furniture | Rocks, driftwood, plants. |
| Compatibility | Juvenile fish are suited to a community tank, but adult fish grow fairly large, and may eat smaller fish. |
| Breeding | By hormone injection in Eastern Europe. |
| Further Information | |
| References | Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond.1900 (pt 3) - pp514 |
| Registered Keepers | (1) TP (k: 4), (2) Birger (k: 4), (3) synoguy, (4) Silurus, (5) GreenSynoMan, (6) synodont_fan (k: 2), who also notes: "Quite mild mannered. Not very active. Cuter when small, but the adult pattern is nice.", (7) Redcatman (k: 2), who also notes: "I live in a soft water area. The only water quality parameter measured regularly is pH which is kept between 6.5 and 7.0. Ammonia and nitrite are usually zero when I do occasionally measure it. Nitrate controlled by parial water changes every 2-3 weeks. The tank is filtered using an old (40 years!)Eheim external filter which has been in continuous use since it was purchased. Contains various Eheim filter materials also bought 40 years ago. Only material replaced is a layer of filter wool. Filter is cleaned out when water flow drops which is usually every 2-3 months.", (8) KenyanSandBoa, (9) cwm, (10) kvnbyl (k: 2), (11) nuth88, (12) kagal, (13) vriesea (k: 2), who also notes: "Bought two in PCCA auction. Full grown, $7 for the pair.", (14) Junttis (p: 2), (15) jippo (k: 2), (16) syno-kev, who also notes: "this one is out all the time about 4 inches not really that exciting though", (17) Plunt, (18) glyde (k: 2), (19) aledk85, (20) cathje (k: 5), (21) Shovelnose, (22) Cornuta, (23) Moomoo, (24) Khalid, (25) Nick44, (26) sonovue, (27) gotya, (28) phenix, (29) wwajfd, who also notes: "Slow grower ", (30) bigcatsrus, (31) oliv67, (32) Caracal, (33) Bloodywertzie, (34) Mike C, (35) Avinitlarge, (36) TheFishGuy, (37) wimmels, (38) VonKarppis, (39) snakelover (p: 3), (40) andregurov (p: 2, k: 2), (41) JamesStuddart, (42) tomr, (43) Cyberdragon, (44) arapaimag, (45) milosz, (46) Catfish freak. 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 |
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| Hits | 21684 hits. |
| Last Update | 2008 Jan 21 12:10 (species record created: 2001 May 04 00:00) |
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