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Hello all,

What species of Synodontas would be appropriate for a larger (180-350 US gallon) planted aquarium? I provide water geared toward my main interests - soft-water South American species - pH 6.5, gh 2, 77 degrees f. I'm aware most Synos prefer more alkaline and harder conditions, but there must be some that would thrive as a group in one of my tanks, and possibly breed.

I would be thankful for any suggestions as an appropriate species if in fact there are any.
Dave

synodontis nigriventris

MDOU wrote:synodontis nigriventris

Thanks!

I'm aware most Synos prefer more alkaline and harder conditions

actually, that's plain wrong!
It's the RIFTLAKE Syno's that like hard, alcaline water; but most riverine like soft, acidic water just fine, and there are many more species in the rivers than the 10 or so from Tanganyika and the 1 from Malawi (Lake Victoria has soft water!)

however, Tanganyika-Syno's are all the rage, so you can easily get the impression when entering the LFS that the lakes carry more Syn-species than the rivers.

Your tank is quite huge; there are many more Synodontis quite suitable.
because it's going to be planted the rowdies or the truly big 'uns (like obesus, schall, acanthomias etc) should be avoided.

S flavitaeniatus, S decorus, S robertsi, S pleurops, S contractus, S koensis, S greshoffi, S caudalis etc etc

another "almost a Syno" wich really likes planted tanks is Mochokilla paynee. this one can be kept with Synodonis, no problem.

Thanks for the info. To clarify, I have three aquariums set up that are cycled and ready for the first fishes. They are 180, 220 and 350 US gallons. The first two are six footers, the 350 is 8x3.

Any Syno would have to grow to a small enough adult size to not consume tetras the size of, say, Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis.

I had an S. angelicus for several years in a 6.8 pH tank when I was a teenager, and it never bothered the school of cardinals it lived with. It thrived for nearly ten years in that tank before I gave it away after college. Is S. angelicus an option for my current conditions?

Although it grows rather large a group of S.decorus would look great in the 350...mine hasnt shown any interest in small fishes at 20 cm. Really beautiful fish though.

I have 2 in a 75 gallon. The bigger one won't let cichlids smaller than him mess with him. They are beautiful, and most say they are shy. I have tons of rocks in my tank. And have had these for 4 months. They have become as active as multipunctatus, going through the rocks and such.

Thanks so much for the responses to my question.

How much would one expect to pay (USD) for S. flavitaeniatus these days? I remember paying $47.00 US for 1 inch S. angelicus in the early 1980's, and was under the impression then that flavitaeniatus was considerably more expensive at that time.

I would hope they would be more reasonable, as I would purchase either 6 or 8 (depending on aquarium size, I'd put them in the 220 or 350) to have a hope of breeding them in the future.

Dave

Flavitaeniatus can be had for under $20 apiece. Maybe around half that, if you look hard enough.