Microsynodontis polli info.

[CatWhat]

Hey guys, I am thinking of getting a small group of M.polli but was hoping I could get some info regarding keeping them. Also any personal experience would be great as well.

Thanks,

[N0body Of The Goat]

I've struggled with them, I lost 5 of a batch of 6 (ordered online) within minutes of transferring them from a drip acclimitising bucket to the tank, but in hindsight I wondered if this was related to acclimitising them for several hours. The survivor is still with me, ~3.5 years on.

~2 years ago I ordered a group of 10, along with some other African catfish, but this batch of M. polli was a complete wipeout. As the fish shop said, they were not in great condition when they arrived at the store earlier that day (very skinny), the plan was always for me to pick up my order that day. One was dead on arriving home from ~1.5 hours travelling, while the other nine dropped one by one over the next week in a quarantine tank.

One survivor from 16 is by far and away the worst stats I have for any new fish. What made it even worse for me was that I was unable to learn anything definitive about what the causees were, I could only speculate too long acclimitising first time and malnutrition or internal infection with the second batch.

[Richard B]

My experience has been much better - I've found them really easy to keep & hardy - that said they were quality, acclimatised individuals that were purchased 1-2" SL

[CatWhat]

Do you find them active as far as catfish go, or are they more dedicated to nocturnal activities?

[Richard B]

They are not active much. Plenty of cover & subdued lighting will help a little but mostly it's feeding time or lights out to get to see them

[N0body Of The Goat]

Microsynondontis sp.1 are far more active, when I had a group of 10, they were buzzing in the strong filter current all day long!

In contrast, I panic a little if I ever see my M. polli, going back to the horrid Ich wipeout I had a few years back. For ~12 hours during treatment, M. polli was "treading water" in the front corner of the tank, I feared the worst (because I lost all the young Synodontis decorus group who did something similar before dying overnight).

[N0body Of The Goat]

Just served breakfast to my ~280l tank of little and peaceful fish, to find my M. polli dead, just below the water surface near the unsecured semi-roaming Anubias plant. He/she was with me for ~4.5 years, arriving in a small group of six from Wildwoods' delivery.

Does anyone have any idea if that is a reasonable hobby, illness-free lifespan?

[bekateen]

Sorry for your loss.

Regards, Eric

[synolover]

Where did you guys find microsynodontis sp. 1? I really want to get some for my W African tank, but I haven't been able to find any. The only microsynodontis I've seen available was the batesii, which isn't really my favorite

[Jools]

Mine are three years old, I don't know more about longevity but will report back. @Birger got most of Microsynodotis a couple of years back and as far as I know they're all doing fine.

Jools

[Richard B]

M.Polli 9 years

[N0body Of The Goat]

M.Polli 9 years

Suspected as much, given other synos live in excess of 20 years.

He/she was quite thin and only 45mm SL after ~4.5 years. There was an open wound on its side that could have been due to a pectoral fin puncture from one of the Pareutropius Mandeville group. Over time they have become more confident at grabbing food from the tank substrate.