Synodontis contracta • Mochokidae • Cat-eLog

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Synodontis contracta** Vinciguerra, 1928
Common Name(s)	Big-nosed Upside Down Catfish, Bug Eyed Squeaker
Type Locality	Rubi R. at Buta, Zaire.
Synonym(s)	Synodontis contractus
Pronunciation	sin oh don tiss - kon TRACK tah
Etymology	Synodontis: From the Greek syn, meaning together, and odontos, meaning tooth; in reference to the closely-spaced lower jaw teeth.
Species Information
Size	60mm (2.4") 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. It is very similar in colour pattern to the more commonly encountered Synodontis nigriventris. The main differences being that S. contracta has a bigger head, broader mouth and far larger eye.
Sexing	Unknown, hard to tell differences in genital papillae in such a small species.
General Remarks	Males reach no larger than 70mm SL.
Habitat Information
Distribution	Africa: Congo region (Stanley Pool) at Kinshasa. African Waters, Congo (click on these areas to find other species found there) (Click the map-icon to show/hide map of species distribution)
pH	6.2 - 7.6
Temperature	22.0-26.0°C or 71.6-78.8°F (Show others within this range)
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Live foods, frozen foods, tablet, granulated and flake foods. The species is fond of snails and some vegetable matter should be included in the diet.
Furniture	Well planted tank would best suit this fish as it lives in this type of habitat in the wild over muddy substrate.
Compatibility	A peaceful species even with its own kind.
Suggested Tankmates	Most small to medium sized community fishes. African tetras would be the most appropriate. This species is found in large shoals in the wild and should be kept in a group of at least 3 or 4 individuals preferably more.
Breeding	Although not hatched, at least one aquarium spawning has been encountered. A small group produced one batch of thirty, large (3.0 mm diameter) bright orange eggs, these were hidden away at the back of the tank.
Further Information
References	Ann. Mus. Civ. Stor. Nat. `Giacomo Doria' v. 53 - pp24 [20] - Pl. 1
Registered Keepers	(1) synoguy (k: 4), (2) Ak Viking, (3) Jools (k: 6), (4) synodont_fan, (5) RobDoran1, (6) Jeox, (7) Richard B, (8) Reginator (k: 2), (9) jippo (k: 12), (10) fuzzytigerbird, (11) MatsP (k: 9), (12) corybreed (k: 10). Click on a username above to see all that persons registered catfish species. You can also view all "my cats" data for this species.
Breeding Reports	None.
Articles	- CotM 2005 February
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Last Update	2009 Jan 08 12:45 (species record created: 2003 Aug 23 00:00)

Cat-eLog Data Sheet

Scientific Name

Synodontis contracta Vinciguerra, 1928

Common Name(s)

Big-nosed Upside Down Catfish, Bug Eyed Squeaker

Type Locality

Rubi R. at Buta, Zaire.

Synonym(s)

Synodontis contractus

Pronunciation

sin oh don tiss - kon TRACK tah

Etymology

Synodontis: From the Greek syn, meaning together, and odontos, meaning tooth; in reference to the closely-spaced lower jaw teeth.

Species Information

Size

60mm (2.4") 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.

It is very similar in colour pattern to the more commonly encountered Synodontis nigriventris. The main differences being that S. contracta has a bigger head, broader mouth and far larger eye.

Sexing

Unknown, hard to tell differences in genital papillae in such a small species.

General Remarks

Males reach no larger than 70mm SL.

Habitat Information

Distribution

Africa: Congo region (Stanley Pool) at Kinshasa.
African Waters, Congo (click on these areas to find other species found there)

(Click the map-icon to show/hide map of species distribution)

6.2 - 7.6

Temperature

22.0-26.0°C or 71.6-78.8°F (Show others within this range)

Husbandry Information

Feeding

Live foods, frozen foods, tablet, granulated and flake foods. The species is fond of snails and some vegetable matter should be included in the diet.

Furniture

Well planted tank would best suit this fish as it lives in this type of habitat in the wild over muddy substrate.

Compatibility

A peaceful species even with its own kind.

Suggested Tankmates

Most small to medium sized community fishes. African tetras would be the most appropriate. This species is found in large shoals in the wild and should be kept in a group of at least 3 or 4 individuals preferably more.

Breeding

Although not hatched, at least one aquarium spawning has been encountered. A small group produced one batch of thirty, large (3.0 mm diameter) bright orange eggs, these were hidden away at the back of the tank.

Further Information

References

Ann. Mus. Civ. Stor. Nat. `Giacomo Doria' v. 53 - pp24 [20] - Pl. 1

Registered Keepers

(1) synoguy (k: 4), (2) Ak Viking, (3) Jools (k: 6), (4) synodont_fan, (5) RobDoran1, (6) Jeox, (7) Richard B, (8) Reginator (k: 2), (9) jippo (k: 12), (10) fuzzytigerbird, (11) MatsP (k: 9), (12) corybreed (k: 10).

Click on a username above to see all that persons registered catfish species. You can also view all "my cats" data for this species.

Breeding Reports

None.

Articles