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mouth size of syno and what it will eat
Posted: 13 Mar 2010, 09:42
by ali12345
Hi,
I have a couple of 7-8" synos and would like to know what size of fish I can get away with? Is it the mouth width or height that is relevant? I have reshuffled my plans for my 10ft tank but would still like to add my synos but would like to know who is safe. Any that aren't I have to catch which is no small feat in a fully furnsished 10 x 3 x 3. I know they can live with faster danios etc but platies?
Alison
Re: mouth size of syno and what it will eat
Posted: 13 Mar 2010, 10:38
by Richard B
The synos are NOT a predatory fish, but a hungry fish is opportunistic. It doesn't matter how big the dimensions of a mouth really, it is a question of how badly one fish want s to eat another. If it is a predator, that urge is strong. For a syno that urge is very slight,but if it is hungry by being kept under or incorrectly fed & along comes a little snack, well, obviously the snack disappears. Fry of livebearers are clearly at risk but adults far less so.
Re: mouth size of syno and what it will eat
Posted: 13 Mar 2010, 13:55
by MatsP
To confirm what Richard says, I've had less than 1/2" (13mm) fry from Corydoras sterbai "escape" into my RIO 400 tank. In that same tank, I have 6"+ Synodontis decora...
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Mats
Re: mouth size of syno and what it will eat
Posted: 13 Mar 2010, 14:09
by Birger
What kind of syno's are you talking about, you have S.nigriventris and S.greshoffi in your My cats list.
The S.nigriventris should be okay except the smallest of fry and they certainly should not be 7-8 inch.
The S.greshoffi are large enough to snack on these fish you listed but probably would only go looking for them as said, if hungry, but may also come across them during darkness as they are resting on the bottom or floating among plants.
You have to keep in mind most syno's are opportunistic feeders and a snack is a snack, I am still amazed at times how big some fish can open their mouths.
Birger
Re: mouth size of syno and what it will eat
Posted: 13 Mar 2010, 14:21
by ali12345
Hi, thanks everyone. I just wanted confirmation that it wasn't a stupid thing to do! I think my old one is a Greschoffi and the little guys - nigriventis already live in the tank. I have never kept my synos in a different tank to my talking cats - platydoras armulatus so I have never been able to judge what they will take.
Alison