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Synodontis serpentis Whitehead, 1962

Image contributors to this species:

Hippocampus Bildarchiv (1) Peter Hardy (2)

ScotCat Sources:

Other Sources:

Relevant Information:

Noted for the two pale bands on the body, just before and after the adipose fin and the marbled pattern. Not imported very often. Habitat: Inhabits small streams, main rivers and flooded pools. Extremely abundant in ox-bow lakes and river cut-offs in the Lower Tana River. Reproduction: Breeding occurs shortly after floods, when ripe fish enter small streams leading to floodwater pools, where they breed; this migration is rather sudden, adult fish migrate in large schools upstream over a period of less than a week (3 to 4 days); one or two additional smaller migrations may occur after the main peak; the stimulus triggering this migration is probably closely connected with rainfall. Aquarium Care: As for per Synodontis species. Diet: Will eat most prepared foods and also likes a vegetable addition to the diet.

Common Name:

Tana squeaker

Synonyms:

None

Family:

Mochokidae

Distribution:

Africa: Athi and Tana River basins (Kenya). Type locality: Athi River at Jilore, thirty miles from river mouth, Kenya.

Size:

10.0cm. (4ins)

Temp:

23-26°C (73-79°F)

p.H.

6.5-7.2.

Reference:

Seegers, L. 2008 The catfishes of Africa. A handbook for identification and maintenance. Aqualog Verlag A.C.S. GmbH, Germany. 604 p.
Bruton, M., Merron, G., Skelton, P., Fishes of the Okavango Delta & Chobe River, Botswana. Struik Nature, 2018.
Poll, Max. 1971 Révision Des Synodontis Africains (Famille Mochocidae) [Revision of the African Genus Synodontis (Family Mochokidae). 523 p.
Hardy, Peter. pers. comm. 2020.
Gosse, J.-P., 1986. Mochokidae. p. 105-152. In J. Daget, J.-P. Gosse and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde (eds.) Check-list of the freshwater fishes of Africa (CLOFFA). ISNB, Brussels, MRAC, Tervuren; and ORSTOM, Paris. Vol. 2.
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2021. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, ( 06/2021 ).

Family: Mochokidae Back to Ident-A-Cat Click on Thumbnails

Synodontis serpentis

Synodontis serpentis
Tana River, Kenya

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