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Allan James (3)

This marbled S. eupterus has been out crossed in the fish farms of Thailand and sold in the trade as "Paradox Marbled Featherfin Catfish". There is also an albino version of this catfish. Description: Dorsal spines (total): 1; Anal spines: 0. Diagnosis: gill slits not extending ventrally beyond pectoral-fin insertions; eye large, its diameter 23-34.5% of head length and 48-75% of snout length; post-orbital length at least 60% of snout length; maxillary barbels unbranched, longer than head, without tubercles and bordered by a rather broad basal membrane restricted to their anterior thirds; outer mandibular barbels with simple, thin and rather long ramifications; branches of inner mandibular barbels shorter, subdivided and tuberculate; mandibular teeth slender and moderately long, numbering 39-62 (in the holotype of S. eupterus); denticulations of pectoral-fin spines weak on outer margin and well developed on inner margin; dorsal-fin spine smooth anteriorly, except for a few apical denticles; humeral process triangular and not keeled ventrally; adipose fin well developed and rather close to rayed dorsal fin; branched dorsal-fin rays as well as dorsal and pectoral-fin spines prolonged into filaments. Colouration: Creamy body with black marbling. Dorsal spine black to cream. Reproduction: Oviparous. Distinct pairing during breeding. Aquarium Care: Can sometimes be quarrelsome depending on the individual fish so would be better in a larger tank with other fish such as larger barbs and tetras such as the "Congo Tetra". Will try and establish itself as the boss of the tank, then once the hierarchy is sorted out things should settle down. Make sure there are plenty of hiding places for this fish so it does not feel under threat from the other tankmates. Diet: The adults will eat a wide variety of foods and that is the key to keeping Syno's fit and healthy, a wide varied diet. They will take flake, tablet food, prawns, shrimps, frozen bloodworm and vegetable foods such as cucumber and courgette. Etymology: The specific name eupterus: eu´, well or very; pterus, from pterón or ptéryx, fin, referring to the “extraordinary development” of its dorsal fin, “remarkable for its great depth”.

Paradox Marbled Featherfin Catfish

Synodontis macrepipterus

Mochokidae

Asia: Farm bred.

16.5cm. (6½ins)

22-26°C (71-78°F)

6.2-7.5.

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, ( 02/2021 ).
ScotCat Factsheet no. 16. October 1997.
Seegers, L. 2008 The catfishes of Africa. A handbook for identification and maintenance. Aqualog Verlag A.C.S. GmbH, Germany. 604 p.
Woodward, Neil. pers. comm. 2026.