The hybrid Syno thread

[Richard B, posts: 6306]

Hopefully a lot of people who use Planet Catfish will be aware that there are a massive amount of hybrid synodontis out there. Love 'em or hate 'em, they are here to stay for the time being & although personally i am very much against them, things would be better if they were clearly identified at shops & not passed off as genuine species. There is lot's of good info in cat-e-log on hybrids & http://www.planetcatfish.com/shanesworl ... cle_id=269 this article in Shane's world.

Hybrids have though, in my more recent experience, become far more varied in types, & of a better "quality" that is to say they are getting far closer to genuine species. (EG we have seen hybrid decora with branched maxillary barbels, & multi hybrids almost identical save for a few black flecks in the white section of the dorsal).

I suspect there are starting to be many species crossed to create hybrids, that weren't crossed before but also that hybrids are being crossed with genuine species & perhaps hybrid type 1 with hybrid type 3 to create further variants.

In order to educate people where possible & compliment cat-e-log, i will try & post some of the things i see in this thread & would encourage anyone with hybrid examples to do the same.

Cat-e-log hybrid types...
Synodontis sp_hybrid(1)
Synodontis sp_hybrid(2)
Synodontis sp_hybrid(3)
Synodontis sp_hybrid(4)
Synodontis sp_hybrid(5)

[Richard B, posts: 6306]

Synodontis sp_hybrid(2) has long been thought to be a petricola x nigrita cross. This is the hybrid which in the UK was offered as Synodontis granulosa before we knew what young 'grannys' looked like. People said the white fin edges developed as the fish grew - this is not the case as has been proven by the captive breeding of Synodontis granulosa - see F1 pics in cat-e-log.

This hybrid seems to get a greater number of body spots as the fish grows as in the pic below.

note the faded black tail markings, evident in many Tangyanikan species

IMGP0501.JPG (54.18 KiB) Viewed 3294 times

[Richard B, posts: 6306]

A new hybrid i encountered yesterday was labelled "Petricola Hybrid" but is extremely close to Synodontis granulosa - frighteningly so.

The only differences, (bar correct labelling) is the price (as 'Granny's' are very expensive) & the fact the dark & white portions of the fins are not clearly segregated as they are on genuine fish.

[Richard B, posts: 6306]

Synodontis sp_hybrid(4) is often sold as Synodontis multipunctata. This hybrid is being seen more & more regularly. It is very similar to Synodontis sp_hybrid(1)

IMGP0521.JPG (49.49 KiB) Viewed 3292 times

This one has been labelled S Pardalis, Tiger syno, leopard syno.

[Richard B, posts: 6306]

This one could be a genuine species as it has more than a passing resemblence to Synodontis ocellifer but is being offered for sale as Synodontis njassae is clearly is not a rift lake species

IMGP0509.JPG (47.14 KiB) Viewed 3291 times

[Jools]

A new hybrid i encountered yesterday was labelled "Petricola Hybrid" but is extremely close to Synodontis granulosa - frighteningly so.

The only differences, (bar correct labelling) is the price (as 'Granny's' are very expensive) & the fact the dark & white portions of the fins are not clearly segregated as they are on genuine fish.

I have four of these and am growing them up. I think though that mine have grey as opposed to white barbles.

Jools

[Richard B, posts: 6306]

A new hybrid i encountered yesterday was labelled "Petricola Hybrid" but is extremely close to Synodontis granulosa - frighteningly so.The only differences, (bar correct labelling) is the price (as 'Granny's' are very expensive) & the fact the dark & white portions of the fins are not clearly segregated as they are on genuine fish.

I have four of these and am growing them up. I think though that mine have grey as opposed to white barbles.
Jools

It will be extremely interesting to see how they develop contrasted with genuine Granulosa - PM sent

[Richard B, posts: 6306]

Sorry - a particularly poor photo

S Multipunctata hybrid - note though particularly the first (hard spine) ray of the dorsal is white - Multipunctata do not have this.

IMGP0531.JPG (54.31 KiB) Viewed 3280 times

I'll try to get a better pic with my rubbishy camera if i can

[jippo, posts: 247]

Thanks Richard for this thread.

Can you post some of these earlier hybrid ornatipinnis and decora photos here too. Those are quite common also at the moment.

I will check my hybrid photos when i got more time.

[Richard B, posts: 6306]

Thanks Richard for this thread.

Can you post some of these earlier hybrid ornatipinnis and decora photos here too. Those are quite common also at the moment.

I will check my hybrid photos when i got more time.

I will drop some links to other threads, but am not sure of the protocols of posting other peoples pics???

[Birger]

I will drop some links to other threads, but am not sure of the protocols of posting other peoples pics???

Links to other threads are good and then we can post pics as we get additions (and permission to use those pics).


Birger

[Timberwolf, posts: 150]

I can happily say that my hybrid syno was not represented to me as anything other than an orphaned syno. It had been dropped off at the LFS by someone who was tearing down their tanks to move. The employees knew she was a synodontis, but didn't even want to guess.

MatsP has labeled her Synodontis sp. hybrid (8).

[Jools]

You might want to consider editing the first post to list all the hybrids in the catelog. E.G. Synodontis sp_hybrid(1) etc?

Jools

[Richard B, posts: 6306]

I didn't have my camera with me so no pic but MA stratford-upon-avon have one of what looks to be a balloon syno - like balloon parrot cichlids, balloon mollies.

I can't be sure as it was partly concealed but certainly it was disproportionate in body length & was brown hybrid of some sort

We've seen pics of balloon o.Niger so i suspect it would be possible to "balloon" a syno......

If it is, i am very disheartened

[Richard B, posts: 6306]

You might want to consider editing the first post to list all the hybrids in the catelog. E.G. Synodontis sp_hybrid(1) etc?Jools

done

[Richard B, posts: 6306]

I can happily say that my hybrid syno was not represented to me as anything other than an orphaned syno. It had been dropped off at the LFS by someone who was tearing down their tanks to move. The employees knew she was a synodontis, but didn't even want to guess.

MatsP has labeled her Synodontis sp. hybrid (8).

Shouldn't this be hybrid 6 not 8? (as there aren't a 6 & 7 currently)

[Carp37, posts: 596]

I can see hybrids 6 and 7 in the Cat-eLog- could just be a timing difference.

[MatsP]

I haven't added any new hybrid species yet. It will have whatever is the "next number" when I get around to doing that.

--
Mats

[Richard B, posts: 6306]

I can see hybrids 6 and 7 in the Cat-eLog- could just be a timing difference.

I still cant see hybrid 6 or 7?

[MatsP]

There are currently, five hybrids in the list. There may be other "unidentified" species, but the only ones with "hybrid" as part of the name are these (you can bookmark/reuse that link, and it will show the actual number at the time).

--
Mats