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Synodontis greshoffi was collected by its namesake, M. A. Greshoff, in the area around Kinshasa, Stanley Pool, in the upper Congo River near Brazzaville, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) and the new species was so named by the above author, L. Schilthuis, in a paper written by him in 1891. Description: Like other members of the genus, this fish has a humeral process, which is a bony spike that is attached to a hardened head cap on the fish and can be seen extending beyond the gill opening. The first ray of the dorsal fin and the pectoral fins have a hardened first ray which is serrated and the caudal fin is deeply forked with an extension on the top lobe. Colouration: The body of the fish is cream-coloured, with brown to folden markings on the sides which continue on the ventral surface. The complexity of the pattern increases on the head. The fins are clear with brown spots, brownish or orange-brown and is marked with a yellow and dark brown horizontal band. Aquarium Care: This is a fairly easy and tolerable species to keep, and a good looker to boot. It can be housed alongside other non aggressive species of Synodontis as long as they are given plenty of shelter such as pipes, rockwork etc to subdue any territorial tendencies between each species. The body pattern is somewhat similar to S. schoutedeni. Diet: Can be fed a varied diet of good quality flake, vegetable foods such as cucumber, tablet food, pellets, worm foods and frozen food such as bloodworm.

Greshoff's Catfish

Synodontis afrofischeri, S.grenshoffi, S.depauwi, S.unicolor, S.tenuis, S.holopercnus, S.pantherinus.

Mochokidae

Africa: Congo River basin, except Luapula River system and lower Congo. Type locality: Kinshasa, Stanley Pool.

20.0cm. (8ins)

23-27°C (73-81°F)

6.5-7.2.

ScotCat Factsheet no. 93. March 2004.