help with iding my cat

glaive · Post by **glaive** » 09 Apr 2003, 00:02

I have four pics following. He/she is deffinetly nocturnal, lives in an african cichlid tank, spends days inside the holes I bored into a lava rock. I really appreciate any help, for like my other fish I would like this one to have the proper diet and conditions for a long happy life. If it helps he/she does have a temper. I have and electric blue ahli and a peacock whom both like to pick on him if he ventures out in the light, but he only takes so much before he fights back.

Post by **Silurus** » 09 Apr 2003, 00:07

Synodontis nigrita. There are several posts on this species in the African Catfishes forum.
From the looks of the split fins, doesn't look like it is faring very well in the tank.

glaive · Post by **glaive** » 09 Apr 2003, 01:39

Now to pester so more lol. I am going to get a 75 - 100 gallon tank for three of my cichlids and was hoping to leave the catfish in the 20 gallon long with my julidochromis ornatus male and female who run from the catfish. Is this an okay idea? I don't know for sure if the split fins are from getting picked on, living in the lava rock or water quality. I do a 25% water change weekly. Every one in the tank gets fed a fairly high protien flake food with algae, and then brine shrimp once a week. Should I get a supliment for the catfish? If so please suggest one.

Ty in advance

Post by **Silurus** » 09 Apr 2003, 01:57

The split fins are definitely a sign of being on the losing end of an altercation with the cichlids.
The syno should be OK in the 20 long, as long as you are not trying to breed the Julidochromis. They're not fussy eaters, so what you're feeding them is fine. You might want to try pellet food (which is more suitable for catfishes, IMO). Something like Hikari Carnivore Pellets or Tetra Tabimin.
You should take note that S. nigrita naturally occurs where the water is softer and more acidic. However, they are fairly resilient fish and can withstand a fairly wide range of water conditions.

glaive · Post by **glaive** » 10 Apr 2003, 23:40

I would like to have a catfish with my more aggressive cichlids, what kind would you suggest?

Post by **Silurus** » 10 Apr 2003, 23:52

A small group of Rift Lake synos like S. multipunctatus or S. petricola would be fine. What size is your tank?

glaive · Post by **glaive** » 12 Apr 2003, 06:06

the tank in question will be 75-100 gallon that is my next purchase so that my cichlids don't go crazy, but I want catfish as well I enjoy all my fish

glaive · Post by **glaive** » 16 Apr 2003, 01:24

I was watching mycatfish teh other day and payed particular attention to his split fin and it looks like it has healed up nicely. I also did a rearangement that day and created a spot for him to hide and he has taken to it nicely. Not to mention that my two bad cichlid <peacock and electric blue> are fighting each other rather than running every one else around, so it appears things may be able to wait a month or so.

Ty for all your help.

help with iding my cat

help with iding my cat

ty for your help

so just curious

the tank in question

split fin