Synodontis Angelicus X Eupterus Hybrid

[Steve]

My Hybrid Syno's are FINALLY starting to come out a bit more during the times when the lights are on where I can finally get some pics of them. They have been very elusive for the past few weeks that I have had them and only come out at night, but the past day or two they seem to be getting a bit more active during the daytime.

[PaulineMi]

Great photo....good looking fish.

[JuJu]

That's a cool little guy!

[Super Turtleman]

Wow, that looks really nice! I wonder if it'll keep the same pattern as an adult?

[Steve]

It's supposed to pretty much be the same color and pattern as an adult. I know some of the other species get bigger, these grow to only about 5"-6" max as adults (from what the supplier said). They are skittish little buggers though lol.

[Super Turtleman]

Cool. Looking forward to seeing some adult pics in the future.   

[Ron]

FWIW, IMO he'll get bigger than 5"-6", but it will take a at least a few years and I'm sure you'll have a variety of BIG tanks by then.  My guess would be around 8"- 9" total length.

I'm curious as to whether the pattern will stay or not as claimed. It doesn't look as much like a S. angelicus pattern, but more like the young S. eupetrus pattern, which eupterus grow out of as they grow up. My vote is that he becomes more spotted than stripey as he matures.

[Super Turtleman]

I agree with you Ron. Though if it grew up and kept that pattern, I'd be all over some of those!

[Steve]

They should keep this pattern guys. I got these from Billy at Cichlid Express (Daytona Aquarium in Florida) and spoke at length with him on the phone before I gave him my stock list to ship. They have been breeding these hybrid cats for awhile now and the pattern they have/keep is one of the main reasons they like these guys so much. They also should not get as big as other syno's from what he said.

[Steve]

Found my notes I jotted down from when I was talking to Billy when I ordered them...7"-8" is the max size when they are adults. 5"-6" was what some of the peacocks I have get too, but these cats only get to 7"-8" max.

[Ron]

Well be sure to update us on it's pattern one it's 6"+. It'd be cool if it kept it! 

As far as size, I know that's an accurate estimate for a typical S. eupterus, but "hybrid vigor" leaves the door open a little wider IMO.

[Steve]

Question for you guys, have any of you ever witnessed Syno cats matting? and what does it looks like when they mate? I ask because I have never seen it before myself so not sure what their actions are when they mate, but I just walked over to turn the lights off in my male peacock tank which has the two Syno hybrid's in it and saw something weird. Behind one of the leaning slate pieces both the cats were tussling around together almost like rolling around and banging their heads and bodies into each other. That went on for about 2 minutes till the smaller one finally came out and hide and then the larger one went to hide a few seconds later.

Were they mating maybe?? Or fighting?

[Ron]

Or fighting?

That one. Synodontis are tougher than the typical catfish<10" and it's half the reason they do well with african cichlids.

[Steve]

Thanks Ron. Interesting, I had no idea they were prone to fighting like they were last night, was very weird to see them tumbling around like they were.

[auratus]

Since the pattern neither looks like Angelicus or Eruptus ( and resembles other synos)  I would guess that this is pattern that is more of a throw back to its common ancestor.  Cool fish.