Substrate for Synodontis?

[QbaZ]

Hi,

On some other websites it says that Synodontis Petricola need sand or fine gravel so as not to damage their barbs. Is this true? Does it apply to all Synodontis?

I have seen Synodontis on youtube and in shops with normal gravel.

[MatsP]

I'd suggest that any tank that hasn't got REALLY high flow, sand is an excellent substrate for all fish.

Unfortunately, shops often keep fish on the wrong substrate (and with unsuitable tankmates, in the wrong group size and many other "bad" things).

--
Mats

[Jools]

On some other websites it says that Synodontis Petricola need sand or fine gravel so as not to damage their barbs. Is this true? Does it apply to all Synodontis?

Synodontis

don't need sand to protect their barbels, but at least in terms of ease of feeding, sand or fine gravel is pretty good.

Jools

[Birger]

Synodontis are highly adaptable but generally do not spend as much time with their noses buried in the sand as a corydoras would.

When I switched from gravel to sand it was especially noticable from my angelica, midsize at the time, they began to take in mouthfulls of sand and then blow it out through the gills when feeding, of course depending on what is being fed, another interesting trait one would not see otherwise, but make sure the sand you have would not irritate gills.

Birger

[Scleropages]

On some other websites it says that Synodontis Petricola need sand or fine gravel so as not to damage their barbs. Is this true?

Synodontis petricola keep barbs in their tanks? What type of barbs? Are we talking something small like cherry barbs or something bigger like tinfoil barbs? I have never had any trouble keeping my barbs in a tank with pebbles for a substrate. I even keep my S. lucipinnis is a tank with pebble substrate. However, I can't speak for the barbs that a S. petricola would keep.

No, I'm not serious. Just thought I'd poke a little fun--and a little pun (barb, barb, poke, poke).

Seriously speaking, my S. lucipinnis are thriving in a tank with pebble substrate (larger than gravel) and their BARBELS seem to be fine.

[racoll]

and their BARBELLS seem to be fine.

Barbells?! Fish doing weight training eh. The mind boggles.

[Scleropages]

Fish doing weight training eh. The mind boggles.

Yeah, my rift lake tank has been on a Jack LaLanne kick for a while. Wait a minute, what are you talking about? God, I love the edit function.

[Richard B]

You guys crack me up!!! (Racoll & Scleropages)

Back to the question in hand - i use coral sand which has the benefit of buffering the water, as these fish like hard alkaline water conditions, replicating Tanganyika. That said, IMHO the substrate is not significantly important for synodontis species although i prefer an appropriate sand over standard gravel. A handful of gravel and pebbles etc can then still be added on the sand (or direct on the base & add sand after, if the rocks are large to stop fish digging underneath them and them toppling over).

Corydoras on the other hand MUST have fine round-grain sand.

[Scleropages]

That said, IMHO the substrate is not significantly important for synodontis species

I agree as long as we are not considering trying to breed some of the riverine species of synos. For this, some species need more of a substrate that they can root around in--like mud, or dense plants, or yarn.

Glad you appreciate the humor, Richard B!