Petricola or Lucipinnis?

[gedtranter]

I've just bought four to add to a Tanganyikan tank and wanted to know which they were. They were sold as Petricola, I'm happy with either model... Let me know your thoughts.
Thanks

[Silurus]

lucipinnis

[gedtranter]

If Silurus says they are Lucipinnis, then Lucipinnis they are. Quick response too!

[andywoolloo]

they are my favourite little synos!

[gedtranter]

These are my first synos, I've rigged up a 36x15x18" rockwork-based tank which includes 4 Gold-faced Alto Comps - nothing else. I'm hoping they will be exploring all over the rock work rather than just sticking to the bottom. A couple of weeks in quarantine first though

[Richard B]

These are my first synos, I've rigged up a 36x15x18" rockwork-based tank which includes 4 Gold-faced Alto Comps - nothing else. I'm hoping they will be exploring all over the rock work rather than just sticking to the bottom. A couple of weeks in quarantine first though

Sounds a good set-up for the Lucipinnis

[gedtranter]

Here we go, this is the tank I've built for the Comps and Lucipinnis when they are ready.

[Richard B]

Looks good - some close-ups might be nice - particulalrly when the fish are in

[Richard B]

hello all,
i am new to this post i have no idea about this so please let me know.
thanks a lot
cheers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

can you expand a little? What exactly do you need to know?

[andywoolloo]

cool tank! Looks very awesome. What is a comp? I have my six still alone in a 20 long soon to a 40 gal breeder.

[zenyfish]

What is a comp?

Altolamprologus compressiceps

[andywoolloo]

oh..wow..thanks. Looks pretty when I looked it up. Will it be nice to the synos?

[gedtranter]

Yeah I would expect so, they are pretty timid to all apart from fry that stray too close, they don't really 'do' too much. They have lived in the tank with multi shelldwellers (neolamprologus multifasciatus) for a couple of years so they know all about sharing. The multis eventually took over the tank so they had to go and I traded the colony for the synos - bargain. Waiting to get them out of quarantine reminds me of the phrase 'a watched kettle never boils', or maybe 'a watched toaster never toasts'. A couple of weeks seems like ages, I won't rush it though. I'll post a pic of the big male Comp, he looks awesome.

[synodontisfellow]

Could someone tell me the deference between the two.

[MatsP]

Generally speaking:
1. Petricola is relatively rare compared to Lucipinnis (A.k.a. Petricola Dwarf).
2. Petricola has smaller spots on the head than the rest of the body.

--
Mats

[Richard B]

Could someone tell me the deference between the two.

Look at pic 17 of lucipinnis & pic 2 of petricola - these are absolutely typical for them respectively. Note how petricola has lots of small round evenly distrubuted spots whereas lucipinnis has random blotches. Pet's also get a hell of a lot bigger

[synodontisfellow]

so generally they are exactly the same except for their spots.

[Richard B]

so generally they are exactly the same except for their spots.

Er, there are size differences, body length & shape differences, headshape differences, behaviour differfences too, but most of these are quite subtle

[Birger]

so generally they are exactly the same except for their spots.

Not really...lucipinnis, large uneven spots,smaller size(100 TL) and an absence of an axillary pore.

petricola, small even spots, larger size(135TL) and a present axillary pore.

Granted you or I would have a hard time to discern this pore but it is a major character that is involved in making these two separate species.
It takes some practice but once you catch on the differences are there to be seen, as well as differences in behavior.

They are both great fish just that the lucipinnis is more abundant and it has been labeled as petricola for so long it takes some time for the industry to adjust.

Birger

[synodontisfellow]

I actually think lucipinnis are better looking fish than the petricola. Are they easier to breed?

[Birger]

I actually think lucipinnis are better looking fish than the petricola. Are they easier to breed?

Yes...so far...considering we are not really all that sure how the true petricola breed, it is quite likely similar but we do not have any positive evidence that I know of.

Birger

[Phyllonemus]

gedtranter,
Tank looks good !

[Richard B]

I actually think lucipinnis are better looking fish than the petricola. Are they easier to breed?

Yes...so far...considering we are not really all that sure how the true petricola breed, it is quite likely similar but we do not have any positive evidence that I know of.

Birger

It's all a matter of taste - i think Petricola are truly stunning!

Petricola are bred in fairly large numbers by NHA, so Gavin knows exactly how to get it done via natural methods. Their breeding room has a couple of tanks of Pet's - all male in one, all female in the other (maybe 30-40 of each). The best looking pair are bought together for the spawning...i don't know much else but clearly it is a scatterer.

[synodontisfellow]

petricola