What is this bamboo hitchiker?

[bobmac010]

I got a bamboo shrimp, and a stalk of bamboo, (shrimp for the 40 gal breeder tank, and plant for living room).
The day after I got them home, I noticed a small cat. I already have a spotted cory, about 3cm long.
This new creature showed up, assuming that it hitchhiked on the bamboo plant.
It started about 3 weeks ago at 2-3 cm long. Now its 4-5 cm long...
Any ideas?
Link below:
http://www.rfmac.com/tank/cat.jpg

Any help would be appreciated...
I was told that it was a Lace Synodontis, but it is more marbled instead of spotted.
What threw me off was the long barbels pointing straight out front...

Thank you in advance,
Bob

[MatsP]

Looks like a young

Synodontis euptera

.

--
Mats

[Birger]

Looks like a young Synodontis euptera.

Yep

[Viktor Jarikov]

Welcome, Bob. Interesting story. "Looks like" is right. Young euptera are not the easiest to ID. Neither is the photo well-suited for that purpose. With these caveats in mind, everything else points to euptera.

[bobmac010]

I've tried to get better pictures, but every time I get out my camera, or iPhone, it promptly disappears under the driftwood, (high current area where the bamboo shrimp hangs out)...
Seems very shy- Comes out when others are feeding, (that's how I got this pic).
If I remain completely motionless, I can get a really good view, but once I reach for camera or iPhone... GONE!!!
Anyway, looks very similar to the pics you've recommended.
So, the color will change to white w/black spots? Interesting...

Thanks again for your help!
Bob

[bobmac010]

Ahh. It's a little darker in color, but very much like this photo:


Thanks!!!

[Mod edit: Inline image instead of link --Mats]

[Viktor Jarikov]

So, the color will change to white w/black spots?

More so gray (of various shades, can be very dark or medium gray) background and lots of small dark circular spots. It will not be white. The backgorund may turn pale/light gray when the fish is stressed - the normal thing with many fishes. It will take at least several years, but this guy can hit 10"-12" TL at max. Behavior is controversial: many report problems of various degrees, from dire to mild. Others, like myself, never had any significant problems in community tanks.

If interested, please visit the links in my post here. http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/view ... t=+euptera