Article © Yann Fulliquet, uploaded June 01, 2005.

This month, our appreciation goes to Yann Fulliquet who introduces a sometimes seen slender beauty from the racy parts of the Congo Basin in Africa.

Alongside the Pyjama Syno, S. flavitaeniatus, Brichard's Syno is certainly one of my favourites in the genus Synodontis. At first glance, they look unusual for a Synodontis; their body is very cylindrical, with a huge sucking disc as a mouth, demonstrating a clear adaptation for their natural biotope. Indeed, when housing this species, it is important to remember their natural biotope is life in and around rapids

So it is important to recreate such current in the aquarium, you also need to provide plenty of hiding places constructed with driftwood and rocks. Unlike Rift lake Synodontis they do not shoal together much. Although they are indeed territorial towards each other, especially when defending their resting place, I have yet to see a real injury due to such a conflict. Such skirmishes only produce nipped fins or teeth marks on the skin of an individual. I've not witnessed any territorial behaviour towards another fish.

They need a good water quality as they are less tolerant of water pollution, so a healthy water change on a weekly basis is a good idea, they will reward you by being more active after that and will display their brightest colours.

Feeding is not too difficult; they have an omnivorous requirement, the vegetable matter aspect of which seems important. In just a matter of a few weeks, my group of five managed to destroy a beautiful Anubias baterii I had in the tank with them. Otherwise they seem to eat anything.

Breeding is very rare and has been managed only once as far as I know, but the success was not as great as due to water a bit too hard and the pH a bit too basic, resulting in the loss of most of the eggs and fry. They had laid the eggs under rocks and cave. For a successful spawn, soft and acid water is a good way to start with.

This is one species of Synodontis that has been commercially farmed using hormone techniques, particularly in Eastern Europe. If you have any doubts about the quality of the stock for sale, you should enquire as to its origins. While such techniques take any pressure off wild stocks, they have been known to produce undesirable hybrids in the sad quest to produce "something different" and make a quick buck. This is really unnecessary in the case of our featured fish as it is such an unusual and attractive Synodontis anyway!

In closing, if you ever come across this species for sale some day, I would jump at the chance, as they are so unusual for a Synodontis. Their price has also well dropped considerably and a small group won't impact off your wallet in the way it would have years ago.

Copyright information for the images used in this article can be found on the species' full Cat-eLog page.

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	Synodontis brichardi  Poll, 1959
Common Names	Brichard's Syno Bredbåndet Skægmalle (Denmark), Brichards Fiederbartwels (Germany)
Type Locality	Rapids at Kinsuka, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Pronunciation	sin oh don tiss - brish hard eye
Etymology	According to Cuvier, Synodontis is an "ancient name for an undetermined fish from the Nile". It is not derived, as often reported, from syn-, together and odous, tooth, presumed etymology of the lizardfish genus Synodus and refers to the closely-spaced lower jaw teeth of both genera. Named after Pierre Brichard, a famous Belgian ichthyologist and student of African fish.
Articles
Species Information
Size	150mm or 5.9" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	All species in the genus Synodontis have a hardened head cap that has attached a process (humeral process) which is situated behind the gill opening and pointed towards the posterior. The dorsal fin and pectoral fins have a hardened first ray which is serrated. Caudal fin is always forked. There is one pair of maxillary barbels, sometimes having membranes and occasionally branched. The two pairs of mandibular barbels are often branched and can have nodes attached. The cone-shaped teeth in the upper jaw are short. S-shaped and movable in the lower jaw. These fish produce audible sounds when disturbed rubbing the base of the pectoral spine against the pectoral girdle. Slender, tubular body and sucker-like mouth, both adaptations to the turbulent water flow of its native habitat. Brownish to dark bluish background coloration with roughly vertical creamy stripes. Colouration appears to fade with age. Short barbels.
Habitat Information
Distribution	Africa: Lower Congo system rapids. African Waters, Congo, Lower Congo (click on these areas to find other species found there) Login to view the map.
IUCN Red List Category	Vulnerable , range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2009.
pH	6.0 - 8.0
Temperature	22.0-27.0°C or 71.6-80.6°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters	Needs good oxygenation. The use of a power head or canister filter with spray bar is recommended. Otherwise, not very particular as to water quality.
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Omnivore. In nature, feeds on filamentous green algae as well as insect larvae. In the aquarium, readily accepts flakes as well as live food. Condition with spirulina flakes and brine shrimp. User data.
Furniture	Plenty of driftwood and rocky areas exposed to strong water flow. A tight crevice formed with pieces of slate makes a good home.
Compatibility	A peaceful fish that is nevertheless capable of self-defence.
Breeding	Not reported in the aquarium.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Annales du Musée du Congo Belge v. 71 (art. 3), pp 100, Pl. 17 (figs. 2A-2C).
Registered Keepers	There are 55 registered keepers, view all "my cats" data.
Wishlists	Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list. There are 4 wishes to keep this species, see who wants what.
Spotters	Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars! There are 15 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
Forum BBCode
	Search for S. brichardi
	Look up S. brichardi on AquaticRepublic.com
	Look up S. brichardi on Fishbase
	Look up S. brichardi on Encyclopedia of Life
	Look up S. brichardi on Global Biodiversity Information Facility
	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.13.29.46
Last Update	2023 Jan 12 05:36 (species record created: 2005 Jun 01 11:22)

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