SCOTCAT.COM  

Hippocampus Bildarchiv (4) Danny Blundell (1) Johnny Jensen's Photographic Library (2) Allan James (2) Ivor Hilton (1)

Not very abundant in the Lake so the price in your LFS will always be high if you are lucky enough to see this beautiful species. Description: All members of Syndontis have a structure called a premaxillary toothpad, which is located on the very front of the upper jaw of the mouth. This structure contains several rows of short, chisel-shaped teeth. In some species, this toothpad is made up of a large patch with several rows in a large cluster. In other species of Synodontis, this toothpad is clearly divided into two separate groups, separated by a thin band of skin that divides the toothpad. This character is used as a method of differentiating between two different but similar species of Synodontis. In S. granulosus, the toothpad is uninterrupted, or continuous without a break. On the lower jaw, or mandible, the teeth of Synodontis are attached to flexible, stalk-like structures and described as "s-shaped" or "hooked". The number of teeth on the mandible is used to differentiate between species; in S. granulosus, there are 28 to 51 teeth on the mandible, arranged in a single row. Colouration: The body color is slate gray to olive-brown with a dark sheen; juveniles display a spotted pattern that fades with age. The underside ranges from pale yellow to gray. Most of the species of Synodontis of Lake Tanganyika have a recognisable pattern consisting of dark triangles at the bases of all of the rayed fins, present in S. granulosus, and the back edges of the fins are white to yellowish in colour. The caudal fin has a black bar that runs from the base of each lobe to the top of the fin and the barbels are white; the bases sometimes have scattered pigmentation. Reproduction: The reproductive habits of most of the species of Synodontis are not known, beyond some instances of obtaining egg counts from gravid females. Spawning likely occurs during the flooding season between July and October, and pairs swim in unison during spawning. Aquarium Care: Usually better to keep as a lone specimen as two individuals will fight. Either that or keep five or six in a large aquarium as this will dilute the aggression. Will be okay with other species of Synodontis. Diet: Omnivores: Will eat most aquarium fare, vegetable, meaty and prepared foods. Remarks: Keep as with all members of Synodontis from Lake Tanganyika, with a higher p.H. value.

Granular Synodontis

Synodontis granulosa

Mochokidae

Africa: Burundi, Tanganyika. Type locality: North end of Lake Tanganyika.

25.0cm. (10ins)

23-26°C (73-79°F)

7.5-8.5.

Wright, J.J. & L.M. Page (2006). "Taxonomic Revision of Lake Tanganyikan Synodontis (Siluriformes: Mochokidae)". Florida Mus. Nat. Hist. Bull. 46 (4): 99–154.
ScotCat Factsheet no. 270. Dec. 2018.