Is this Syno an ocellifer?

[speedy231278]

I've has this one for about six or eight months, and the shop I got him from seemed to think he was a 'Cuckoo', but having seen the pics here, I'm less than convinced. However I'm not entirely sure what he is, as many seem to look fairly similar, and lots of galleries on this site have pictures of the same type of catfish that show the colours so differently depending on the photographer that it is hard to make a choice!



He's been very active recently, day or night, and is usually found keeping my Euptera company, as long as he doesn't encroach too much in his personal space in which case he gets shooed away! I've also got another very similar looking Syno in the other of my larger tanks, which is the same colour, with similar sized spots, but there are probably only a half or two-thirds as many of them, and he has less on the fins as well. I'll post a picture of this one when I get a chance, but he's just decided to move out from the hiding place that would make him easy to photo, and choose one that makes it impossible!

This is the first pic I've posted, so please tell me if it is a little on the large side as I couldn't see anything suggesting a maximum or recommended size unless I'm being blind, and it'll only take a few seconds to shrink it.

[worton[pl]]

Hey,

this fish is not

Synodontis ocellifer

.

It is some kind of hybrid. From your brief description your syno in another tank may be an ocellifer but without photo it is impossible to say for sure .

Regards.

[Birger]

I've has this one for about six or eight months, and the shop I got him from seemed to think he was a 'Cuckoo', but having seen the pics here, I'm less than convinced.

This looks to be

Synodontis ocellifer

but does not look quite right, the hump in front says hybrid and it's active lifestyle also is not to form.

Your other you mentioned could be

Synodontis ocellifer

just with less spots or possibly

Synodontis notata

or

Synodontis congica

This is the first pic I've posted, so please tell me if it is a little on the large side as I couldn't see anything suggesting a maximum or recommended size unless I'm being blind, and it'll only take a few seconds to shrink it.

By the way your picture is fine the file will not upload if it is too large a format

[speedy231278]

I've managed to get a couple of fairly poor shots of the other Syno before he went back into hiding. The first one makes him look all skin and bone, but rest assured that he gets plenty of food!




I'm quite sure that when I hit the post button, he will come back out and pose!

[worton[pl]]

Hey,

I would say this is an ocellifer however I have some doubts so let's wait for others opinions .

Regards.

[Richard B]

I know it's hard to get good photos of fish & these 2 shots are not enough to give an exact opinion i'd suggest

The humeral looks about right in the one pic but the adipose seems a little on the small side in the other pic. this might be the angle the fish is at? Also in the first pic the body line on the dorsal surface looks like there is a dip between the head & body which is a trait of a lot of hybrids - this could be the angle of he fish in the pic though. If it is genuine it is not typical even for a much varied species like ocellifer

[Silurus]

The second fish is also not an ocellifer because:

1. The dorsal fin lacks the fine spots normally seen on ocellifers.
2. The adipose fin is too small
3. The pattern of spots on the caudal fin is not dense enough.
4. The branching of the mandibular barbels looks wrong.

In short, I think you have (another) hybrid.