February 1998 • CotM • PlanetCatfish

Albert's Syno, Bigeye Squeaker - Synodontis alberti Schilthuis, 1891
by Julian Dignall, uploaded February 01, 1998

"Albert" was probably my favourite individual Synodontis that I have as yet kept. This is a difficult choice to make, but as a species S. alberti have a lot to offer the catfish enthusiast. The photo above is a separate individual which clearly shows this fishes unique (among Synodontis) long barbels. They also have unusually large "cute" eyes and an endeaing clownish manner. I've only ever seen S. alberti for sale sporadically since I first clapped eyes on one in 1985. On the subject of eyes, this species larger ones points to its very nocturnal existance, this is something of a shy Synodontis but, therefore, not a bad one for a more social aquarium.".

This article has had 5265 hits. Photo credits for the images used in this article can be found on the Cat-eLog page.

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Synodontis alberti** Schilthuis, 1891
Common Name(s)	Albert's Syno, Bigeye Squeaker
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 (click on these areas to find other species found there) African Waters, Congo, Lukulu (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	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) derrickrscott, (11) tezr, (12) Moomoo, (13) jippo (k: 6), (14) naturalart (k: 3), 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. Developed an eye infection 6/2012", (15) MatsP (k: 4), (16) Viktor Jarikov, who also notes: "very pretty, not shy; looks genuine; about 3 inches", (17) fuzzytigerbird, (18) scleropages (k: 6), (19) Birger (k: 5), (20) Miss Dib Dabs, (21) syno-kev, who also notes: "large fish won best in class , approx 7 - 8 inches long", (22) Taz, (23) lasteeves, (24) corybreed, (25) november (k: 4), who also notes: "Still reclusive after several weeks.". 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
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Hits	19104 hits.
Last Update	2005 Oct 06 00:00 (species record created: 2001 Apr 21 00:00)

Cat-eLog Data Sheet

Scientific Name

Synodontis alberti Schilthuis, 1891

Common Name(s)

Albert's Syno, Bigeye Squeaker

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 (click on these areas to find other species found there)
African Waters, Congo, Lukulu (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

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) derrickrscott, (11) tezr, (12) Moomoo, (13) jippo (k: 6), (14) naturalart (k: 3), 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. Developed an eye infection 6/2012", (15) MatsP (k: 4), (16) Viktor Jarikov, who also notes: "very pretty, not shy; looks genuine; about 3 inches", (17) fuzzytigerbird, (18) scleropages (k: 6), (19) Birger (k: 5), (20) Miss Dib Dabs, (21) syno-kev, who also notes: "large fish won best in class , approx 7 - 8 inches long", (22) Taz, (23) lasteeves, (24) corybreed, (25) november (k: 4), who also notes: "Still reclusive after several weeks.".

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