Synodontis brichardi • Mochokidae • Cat-eLog

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Synodontis brichardi** Poll, 1959
Common Name(s)	Brichard's Syno, Brichard's Synodontis
Type Locality	Rapids at Kinsuka, Kinshasa, Zaire.
Pronunciation	sin oh don tiss - brish hard ee
Etymology	Synodontis: From the Greek syn, meaning together, and odontos, meaning tooth; in reference to the closely-spaced lower jaw teeth. Named after Pierre Brichard, a famous Belgian ichthyologist and student of African fish.
Species Information
Size	150mm (5.9") 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. Slender, tubular body and sucker-like mouth, both adaptations to the turbulent water flow of its native habitat. Brownish-purple background coloration with roughly vertical yellowish stripes. Colouration appears to fade with age. Short barbels.
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	Lower Congo rapids, an area of heavy and turbulent water flow. African Waters, Congo, Lower Congo (click on these areas to find other species found there) (Click the map-icon to show/hide map of species distribution)
pH	6.0 - 8.0
Temperature	22.0-27.0°C or 71.6-80.6°F (Show others within this range)
Other Parameters	Needs good oxygenation. The use of a power head or canister filter with spray bar is recommended. Otherwise, not very particular as to water quality.
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Omnivore. In nature, feeds on filamentous green algae as well as insect larvae. In the aquarium, readily accepts flakes as well as live food. Condition with spirulina flakes and brine shrimp.
Furniture	Plenty of driftwood and rocky areas exposed to strong water flow. A tight crevice formed with pieces of slate makes a good home.
Compatibility	A peaceful fish that is nevertheless capable of self-defence.
Breeding	Not reported in the aquarium.
Further Information
References	Ann. Mus. R. Congo Belge (Ser. 8), Sci. Zool.v. 71 - pp100 - Pl. 17 (figs. 2A-2C)
Registered Keepers	(1) synoguy, (2) Yann (k: 3), (3) Lornek8, (4) Oliver D. (k: 4), (5) Tulio, (6) synodont_fan, who also notes: "Nice coloration and unusual elongated body shape for a Synodontid. These don't do that well in my tank - either they don't like the high nitrates or perhaps it's not riverine enough for them. Or perhaps too much competition from the", (7) Redcatman, (8) ranmasan, who also notes: "Seems to oddly enjoy "suctioning" itself to the aquarium glass.", (9) unblinded, (10) Junttis (k: 6), (11) jippo (k: 7), (12) syno-kev, who also notes: "had this one for about 3 years and at 6 inches long makes a daily trip out to feed but only see it about once a day like to hide amoungst the slates", (13) synosteve, (14) pressureflip, (15) Liam50LB, (16) fleahound, (17) kvnbyl (p: 2, k: 5), (18) Moomoo, (19) shadowcat, (20) oliv67 (k: 2), (21) jprp, (22) fuzzytigerbird, (23) N0body Of The Goat (k: 3), (24) Birger (k: 5), (25) FunkyFredFrog (k: 2), (26) sidguppy (k: 4), (27) MatsP, (28) Clown Crown (k: 2), (29) TheCichlidKid15, (30) toby (k: 3), (31) rsyno (p: 2), (32) transporter42, (33) theguy40267, (34) Cornuta. 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 June
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Last Update	2009 Apr 30 07:36 (species record created: 2001 Apr 21 00:00)

Cat-eLog Data Sheet

Scientific Name

Synodontis brichardi Poll, 1959

Common Name(s)

Brichard's Syno, Brichard's Synodontis

Type Locality

Rapids at Kinsuka, Kinshasa, Zaire.

Pronunciation

sin oh don tiss - brish hard ee

Etymology

Synodontis: From the Greek syn, meaning together, and odontos, meaning tooth; in reference to the closely-spaced lower jaw teeth. Named after Pierre Brichard, a famous Belgian ichthyologist and student of African fish.

Species Information

Size

150mm (5.9") 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.

Slender, tubular body and sucker-like mouth, both adaptations to the turbulent water flow of its native habitat. Brownish-purple background coloration with roughly vertical yellowish stripes. Colouration appears to fade with age. Short barbels.

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

Lower Congo rapids, an area of heavy and turbulent water flow.
African Waters, Congo, Lower Congo (click on these areas to find other species found there)

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

6.0 - 8.0

Temperature

22.0-27.0°C or 71.6-80.6°F (Show others within this range)

Other Parameters

Needs good oxygenation. The use of a power head or canister filter with spray bar is recommended. Otherwise, not very particular as to water quality.

Husbandry Information

Feeding

Omnivore. In nature, feeds on filamentous green algae as well as insect larvae. In the aquarium, readily accepts flakes as well as live food. Condition with spirulina flakes and brine shrimp.

Furniture

Plenty of driftwood and rocky areas exposed to strong water flow. A tight crevice formed with pieces of slate makes a good home.

Compatibility

A peaceful fish that is nevertheless capable of self-defence.

Breeding

Not reported in the aquarium.

Further Information

References

Ann. Mus. R. Congo Belge (Ser. 8), Sci. Zool.v. 71 - pp100 - Pl. 17 (figs. 2A-2C)

Registered Keepers

(1) synoguy, (2) Yann (k: 3), (3) Lornek8, (4) Oliver D. (k: 4), (5) Tulio, (6) synodont_fan, who also notes: "Nice coloration and unusual elongated body shape for a Synodontid. These don't do that well in my tank - either they don't like the high nitrates or perhaps it's not riverine enough for them. Or perhaps too much competition from the", (7) Redcatman, (8) ranmasan, who also notes: "Seems to oddly enjoy "suctioning" itself to the aquarium glass.", (9) unblinded, (10) Junttis (k: 6), (11) jippo (k: 7), (12) syno-kev, who also notes: "had this one for about 3 years and at 6 inches long makes a daily trip out to feed but only see it about once a day like to hide amoungst the slates", (13) synosteve, (14) pressureflip, (15) Liam50LB, (16) fleahound, (17) kvnbyl (p: 2, k: 5), (18) Moomoo, (19) shadowcat, (20) oliv67 (k: 2), (21) jprp, (22) fuzzytigerbird, (23) N0body Of The Goat (k: 3), (24) Birger (k: 5), (25) FunkyFredFrog (k: 2), (26) sidguppy (k: 4), (27) MatsP, (28) Clown Crown (k: 2), (29) TheCichlidKid15, (30) toby (k: 3), (31) rsyno (p: 2), (32) transporter42, (33) theguy40267, (34) Cornuta.

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