Title: Cuckoo Catfish
Description: Synodontis Multipunctatus
Description: Synodontis Multipunctatus
Oddball - May 3, 2005 04:21 PM (GMT)
Name:Synodontis Multipunctatus
Common: Cuckoo Cat, spotted cat
Size: 8-12inch although six inch is more common
Origin: Africa, particulary widespread in lake malawi
Diet: anything from bloodworm to algae tabs, they relish protein catfish pellets
Organization: Shoaler naturally, but in the home aquarium solitary or in groups of 4+
Tank: Solitary, 36 inch (3ft), Group of 4+ 4-6ft is best
Parameters: Alkaline, around 7.5 to 8pH suits this fella best, hard water
Sexing: females are more stocky with a moer pronounced vent area
Breeding: These catfish have a unique breeding habit, see the article
This catfish is a marvelous animal, although shy and retiring, a group of them can be persuaded to become very active with lower light levels. They have huge eyes, indicating their natural activity cycle is dawn and dusk.
When feeding this catfish sweeps the bottom of the tank with its long sensory barbels to detect its food, then deftly chews it up.
The unususal habit of spawning has led to the common name of this catfish. When it is mbuna breeding season, pairs of ripe syno multiplepunctatus begin t0 court. When ready they seek out a pair of spawning cichlids and pass through the site where the cichlid eggs are dropped, depositing their eggs and sperm in this area so that the fertilized catfish eggs mix in amongst the cichlid eggs.
Aas there is no physical way for the cichlids to differentiate between the eggs, the female cichlid is forced to to pick up the catfish eggs as well as her own and mouthbrood them. This ensures that the synos eggs at least survive until they have hatched!
Common: Cuckoo Cat, spotted cat
Size: 8-12inch although six inch is more common
Origin: Africa, particulary widespread in lake malawi
Diet: anything from bloodworm to algae tabs, they relish protein catfish pellets
Organization: Shoaler naturally, but in the home aquarium solitary or in groups of 4+
Tank: Solitary, 36 inch (3ft), Group of 4+ 4-6ft is best
Parameters: Alkaline, around 7.5 to 8pH suits this fella best, hard water
Sexing: females are more stocky with a moer pronounced vent area
Breeding: These catfish have a unique breeding habit, see the article
This catfish is a marvelous animal, although shy and retiring, a group of them can be persuaded to become very active with lower light levels. They have huge eyes, indicating their natural activity cycle is dawn and dusk.
When feeding this catfish sweeps the bottom of the tank with its long sensory barbels to detect its food, then deftly chews it up.
The unususal habit of spawning has led to the common name of this catfish. When it is mbuna breeding season, pairs of ripe syno multiplepunctatus begin t0 court. When ready they seek out a pair of spawning cichlids and pass through the site where the cichlid eggs are dropped, depositing their eggs and sperm in this area so that the fertilized catfish eggs mix in amongst the cichlid eggs.
Aas there is no physical way for the cichlids to differentiate between the eggs, the female cichlid is forced to to pick up the catfish eggs as well as her own and mouthbrood them. This ensures that the synos eggs at least survive until they have hatched!
Punkypuffer - May 3, 2005 05:18 PM (GMT)
i thought it was multipunctatus? :unsure:
Oddball - May 5, 2005 11:23 AM (GMT)
ssssh! :laugh:
Punkypuffer - May 5, 2005 04:31 PM (GMT)
:lol2:
Dwarf_Dude - May 7, 2005 06:54 AM (GMT)
someone on another forum was stripping his peacocks and a syno fry came out and it was 3/4" long :P
DD
DD
Wingsdlc - July 26, 2005 07:17 PM (GMT)
Could you post a link about that?