PlanetCatfish.com

I've put up a topic on aquaticpredators.com, but I'd like some cat experts to take a look at it. I'm really enamoured with the bichir and knifefish, so they're definites. I really like the upside down cats (why I'm asking here), but I don't want them to end up as snacks. Will they be safe in the set-up below? Or should I think about getting a single S. eupterus or another larger synodontis instead?

Anyway here's my plan...in a 55 gallon tank:
1 Polypterus senegalus (senegal bichir)
1 Xenomystus nigri (African knife)
1 Erpetoichthys calabaricus (ropefish)
2 Ctenopoma acutirostre (leopard bushfish)
2 Pelvicachromis pulcher (kribensis)
3 Synodontis nigriventris

Thanks

In the short term they would be ok but expect the Xenomystus to get big and eat anything small. The nigriventris maybe too small. If you really want upside down maybe look at Brachysynodontis batensoda or if you can find them Hemisynodontis membranaceous. Hope this helps

Xenomystus reaches 8" or so, 10 at the most and such large specimen are rare. it's a slow grower, and active in dusk and at night; when the Syno's are active as well.

I've kept adult Xenomystus with Pareutropius spp and NO nipping or chasing was ever observed; even Microctenopoma's were completely ignored.
guppies however were toast! Xenomystus eats small fish, worms etc, but will not bother a catfish at all. they can be territorial between themselves.

the much larger Notopterus is another ballgame; but that fish can reach 2 feet or more, depending on species.

The Bichir is another issue! I've seen 8" bichirs (and senegalensis gets a fair bit larger) gripping S nigriventris by any fin, trying to swallow them, wich of course didn't work because the terrified Synodontis had all spines erect and tried to curl, stinging the Bichir.

it didn't kill them, but they were quite damaged; also those Bichirs (halfgrown P ornatipinnis) didn't learn after try 1; but kept up the misbehaviour......that was observed by me in a LFS, repeatedly (hard stubborn ego's there that didn't follow my advice to relocate the cats )

Your Bichir will DEFINITELY eat the kribs, one day or another!

I'd go for any Synodontis that reaches 6-9"or so; preferably 1 that also has character to meet the challenge.
so don't try the gentle flavitaeniatus, but perhaps boisterous schoutedeni, ocellifer or angelicus.

SocratesGoneMad wrote:Will they be safe in the set-up below? Or should I think about getting a single S. eupterus or another larger synodontis instead?

Anyway here's my plan...in a 55 gallon tank:
1 Polypterus senegalus (senegal bichir)
1 Xenomystus nigri (African knife)
1 Erpetoichthys calabaricus (ropefish)
2 Ctenopoma acutirostre (leopard bushfish)
2 Pelvicachromis pulcher (kribensis)
3 Synodontis nigriventris

As has been said, your Kribs will definitely got at some point. I've also had an adult S. nigriventris half-eaten by a 9" Polypterus, so that's potentially a problem.
Don't go for S. eupterus, they prefer to be in large aquaria in groups IMO.
Pete

I've had a Bichir for about a 2yrs now and haven't had any issues. Mind you all the fish in the tank are larger than him. I find he doesn't cause much trouble and likes to hide on the side of my tank with the least amount of current. I also find that they prefer to eat meaty foods so would love any fish that is small enough to fit in its mouth. They seem to be able to dislocate there jaw and eat almost like a snake would.


I just bought some guppies to breed and feed to my larger fish.