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he ‘Clown Catfish’ although it grows large is, in my book, the original gentle giant. It does well in an aquarium environment but do bear in mind that if you have purchased it as a juvenile and it is placed in a small tank you will certainly have to move it, as it grows, to a larger tank for the benefit of the fish itself, and of course the enjoyment of its owner.

Synodontis decorus

Talking of enjoyment, you will need to be patient as this fish is extremely nocturnal as an adult and is one of the shyest Syno's around. Regular contributor to the monthly factsheets, Linday Dobree-Carey, tells me that her decorus (Charlie) shares its home, a plastic pipe, with one of three large Clown Loaches (Botia macracantha) and they follow each other around which she thinks makes ‘Charlie’ feel more secure.

The unusual trait of this Synodontis is the long extension of the dorsal fin which can reach as far back as its caudal fin and along with its attractive body colouration makes it one of the most popular catfish of the genus, Synodontis.

The image below shows Lindsay's pair of clowns! Clown Catfish to the top and the Clown Loach on the bottom bunk. Lindsay explains her feeding routine below.

Clown Catfish and Clown Loach

“At night I have a ‘Moonglow’ lamp which cuts in for a few hours in the evening and this gives Charlie a chance to pop out and do the rounds without him being disturbed by the bright light. Even so, I tend to feed them about 10.00 pm and they have cottoned onto the ‘feed time’ and Charlie is looking out of his pipe any time from 9.30 onwards, any other time you wouldn't think he was there, unless you occasionally look at the end of the pipe”

The image above shows the ramifications (filaments) on the maxillary as well as the mandibular barbels which is unusual in the Synodontis genus.

The genus Synodontis sports three pairs of barbels 1pair: maxillary, 1 pair: outer mandibular and one pair of inner mandibular barbels that are branched (filaments). There are only three species that have filaments on their maxillary barbels as well as the mandibular, and they are, S. clarias, S. decorus and S. flavitaeniatiatus.

Acknowledgement:  Thanks to Lindsay Dobree-Carey for her input and photos and also to Czech aquarist Jiri Pistil for his photograph of the head area and barbels.

Clown Catfish

Synodontis labeo, Synodontis vittatus

Mochocinae

Africa: Democratic Rep.of the Congo. Congo basin except Luapula River system.

25.0cm (10ins)

22-27°C (71-81°F)

Head and body compressed. Three pairs of barbels, maxillary barbels with a small membrane at the base and small slender ramifications larger than on maxillary barbels. Dorsal fin spine smooth anteriorly and posteriorly occasionally with between 2-5 serrations at the filament. Pectoral fin spine smooth on outer edge, inner edge serrated, but not at the base, and ends in a short filament. Caudal fin deeply forked with each lobe forming a point. Head shield pitted.

Base colour creamy white with large black spots and blotches scattered over body. Ventral region white. Dorsal, caudal, anal and ventral fins with black transverse bands.

You will have to choose its tankmates carefully as small characins will be viewed as lunch to an adult decorus on its night-time foraging but a good addition to a large community tank.

No information on the breeding of this species but males are reported to be smaller and darker coloured than the females.

In their native habitat they live on invertebrates, small fishes and crustaceans.In the aquarium they will take a wide range of foods bearing in mind that it might be better to feed at night to make sure that they get their fair share in a community tank. They will accept live food, frozen food (bloodworm) tablet foods and a good quality flake food.

Synodontis: Syn = together; odontis =  teeth (fused tooth plates).
decorus: Elegant; decorative; becoming.

Photo Credits

Top image: ©  
Middle image: ©  Lindsay Dobree-Carey.    
Bottom image: ©  Jiri Plistil @ www.akvarium.cz