Syno. Decorus Eating Enough?

[manoa]

Hi. I have 3 juvenile syno decorus that are about 2". They are in a 70+ gallon corner tank. The other fish are 4 - (2") syno multipunctatus, 5 - (2") frontosas, 5 - (3"+) clown loaches, 3 - (4") siamese algae eaters, and a 3" bushy nose pleco. I feed the tank small sinking pellets while the lights are on. I see all the fish eating except the syno. decorus. By the time the lights go out, all the food looks eaten. I heard that the decorus are shy and like to swim around when the lights are off. However, I'd like all the fish to learn to eat while I can see them. Will the decorus come around and eat with the lights on? Will they starve and become sickly? What would you suggest? Thanks.

[Silurus]

You should be able to tell if your fish are eating just by looking at them. Are they growing thinner with time? If not, they are getting their share and I wouldn't worry.
FWIW, I have owned lots of cats that I have never seen eat, yet survived for years (they have to be eating something all this while).

[manoa]

Hi. What do you think of this assortment of tankmates? Do you think the frontosas or the synos will breed if kept together with these other fish? Thanks.

[sidguppy]

no.
frontosa's belong in a Tanganyika-setup, and that water isn't good for decorus or clownloaches. And frontosa's like it quiet and peaceful, or they won't spawn; too much hassle or activity will keep them from spawning. They'll grow just fine, but likely won't spawn.

furthermore, chances are that -once adult- the frontosa's will eat the algae-eaters (although; if they're Gyrinocheilus aymonieri, this may be an advantage! ).

bushynose (ancistrus) is fine in such a tank, if it is the Common captive-bred variety; not a fancy wildcaught L-number.

You DO know that S decorus reaches 1 foot in length? and that happens in captivity as well, with proper care; it's a big -but gentle- fish.