Are these Synodontis Petricola's? (they seem dark to me)

FTLOSM · Post by **FTLOSM** » 06 Nov 2007, 18:46

I got these 3 fish about 9 months ago at about 1 inch each labeled as Synodontis Petricola.

Wanted to confirm their species, mine seem darker than others I have seen, wondered are there variances like this or are mine possibly a different species all together?

Hopefully these pics are good enough to tell from.

Thanks for any input,

Guestimating their age at around 11-12 months?

I got them at just over an inch about 9 months ago and they appear to be about 3 inches now (2 larger 1 a bit smaller).

Was hoping I have at least one female here and want to read/look/learn about how to best breed them as I have many tanks I want to put some in.

Thanks for any input!
Bill ;)
(update) Added a better closer side shot, these guys are FAST!

Lornek8 · Post by **Lornek8** » 06 Nov 2007, 18:50

Looks like S. lucipinnis to me.

Dave Rinaldo · Post by **Dave Rinaldo** » 06 Nov 2007, 19:19

Here's the Cat-eLog entry.

FTLOSM · Post by **FTLOSM** » 06 Nov 2007, 19:38

FINALLY got one to stay still for a moment, here is one more larger shot if it helps.

As for which it is I am lost on that figured I would ask you guys since you all have 100x the experience in these than I do.

These are my only catfish fish, and was told syno petricola.

Bill

Richard B · Post by **Richard B** » 06 Nov 2007, 22:37

This is S.Lucipinnis. This was only scientifically described in December last year & has been known for many years in the hobby as petricola 'dwarf'. True petricola are more scarce & more expensive. Lucipinnis is still being sold as petricola all over the place as the scientific update has not filtered through too well.

Nevertheles yours are genuine lucipinnis & not one of the terrible hybrids that are being passed off as petricola. They are a super fish & i'm sure you'll get tremendous enjoyment from keeping them

FTLOSM · Post by **FTLOSM** » 07 Nov 2007, 01:42

Thanks for helping me id these guys, what is the best way to breed these fish? Most of my other fish just spit babies constantly, too many in fact hehe but these guys I really like and haven't had a single baby from them yet that I have seen at least.

Bill

Richard B · Post by **Richard B** » 07 Nov 2007, 12:47

first on your list is to make sure you have noth male & female or you're sunk to begin with

There is plenty of info on how to check within this site.

Lucipinnis is a cave spawner & the tried & tested method is the inverted flowerpot over a tray of marbles - again there are plenty of details within the site.

They'll need to be brought into spawning condition so good feeding & water conditions are important & your c*****ds may eat some of the inteded food & be a bit off-putting for the synos occasionally - a dedicated set-up may be your best bet

FTLOSM · Post by **FTLOSM** » 07 Nov 2007, 14:02

Looks like I have some reading to do thanks for the reply here, I do have many tanks currently going so could easily set them up exclusively in an 29 gallon with lots of caves and rocks for them.

I would love to see these breed, of the 3 I hope 1 is female but I will read up more on that here too.

Bill