Synodontis pleurops • Mochokidae • Cat-eLog

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Synodontis pleurops** Boulenger, 1897
Common Name(s)	Bug Eyed Syno, Bug Eyed Synodontis
Type Locality	Stanley [Boyoma] Falls, Upper Congo R., Zaire.
Pronunciation	sin oh don tiss - ploo RAWPS
Etymology	Synodontis: From the Greek syn, meaning together, and odontos, meaning tooth; in reference to the closely-spaced lower jaw teeth.
Species Information
Size	230mm (9.1") 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. A very distinctive Synodontis easily identified by its large head, large eyes, relatively long, highly forked tail and dainty little mouth. The basic colour pattern is silvery white overlaid with brown-black markings, but there is considerable variation between individuals. Some specimens are spotted while others are striped. The distinctive markings of juveniles fade somewhat in adults.
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	Upper Congo only, especially around Stanley Falls African Waters, Congo, Upper 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	23.0-27.0°C or 73.4-80.6°F (Show others within this range)
Other Parameters	More tolerant of slightly acidic pH than many other Synodontis species.
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Omnivorous, but more interested in algae and vegetable matter than meat. Tends to be out-competed for food if kept in the company of more aggressive Synodontis species.
Furniture	Ample hiding places should be provided. The fish likes to cling to the sides of the aquarium rather than lying on the substrate, so dense Vallisneria and tall driftwood are to be recommended.
Compatibility	A peaceful, somewhat skittish fish that can nevertheless hold its own in boisterous company.
Breeding	Not reported in the aquarium.
Further Information
References	Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (Ser. 6)v. 20 (no. 119) - pp423
Registered Keepers	(1) synodont_fan, who also notes: "I like this species. Mine doesn't show any spots, but has an interesting sickle shaped tail and very boxy head, compared to most synodontids. It likes to hang by its mouth off the end of a piece of wood. Doesn't seem to be aggressive.", (2) jippo (k: 2), (3) Chrysichthys (k: 2), (4) Moomoo, (5) dayglowfroggy (p: 3), (6) syno-kev, (7) Richard B, (8) tomr (k: 2). 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 2009 February
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Last Update	2004 Nov 24 00:00 (species record created: 2001 Apr 21 00:00)

Cat-eLog Data Sheet

Scientific Name

Synodontis pleurops Boulenger, 1897

Common Name(s)

Bug Eyed Syno, Bug Eyed Synodontis

Type Locality

Stanley [Boyoma] Falls, Upper Congo R., Zaire.

Pronunciation

sin oh don tiss - ploo RAWPS

Etymology

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

Species Information

Size

230mm (9.1") 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.

A very distinctive Synodontis easily identified by its large head, large eyes, relatively long, highly forked tail and dainty little mouth. The basic colour pattern is silvery white overlaid with brown-black markings, but there is considerable variation between individuals. Some specimens are spotted while others are striped. The distinctive markings of juveniles fade somewhat in adults.

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

Upper Congo only, especially around Stanley Falls
African Waters, Congo, Upper 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

23.0-27.0°C or 73.4-80.6°F (Show others within this range)

Other Parameters

More tolerant of slightly acidic pH than many other Synodontis species.

Husbandry Information

Feeding

Omnivorous, but more interested in algae and vegetable matter than meat. Tends to be out-competed for food if kept in the company of more aggressive Synodontis species.

Furniture

Ample hiding places should be provided. The fish likes to cling to the sides of the aquarium rather than lying on the substrate, so dense Vallisneria and tall driftwood are to be recommended.

Compatibility

A peaceful, somewhat skittish fish that can nevertheless hold its own in boisterous company.

Breeding

Not reported in the aquarium.

Further Information

References

Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (Ser. 6)v. 20 (no. 119) - pp423

Registered Keepers

(1) synodont_fan, who also notes: "I like this species. Mine doesn't show any spots, but has an interesting sickle shaped tail and very boxy head, compared to most synodontids. It likes to hang by its mouth off the end of a piece of wood. Doesn't seem to be aggressive.", (2) jippo (k: 2), (3) Chrysichthys (k: 2), (4) Moomoo, (5) dayglowfroggy (p: 3), (6) syno-kev, (7) Richard B, (8) tomr (k: 2).

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