Small West African catfish

[c.sterbai@gmail.com]

Hello,

I am planning on a West African biotope aquarium with (amongst others) Pelvicachromis spec. and Aplocheilichtys normani. Plants for example Crinum Calamistratum.

I would like to have some catfish in the tank as well. When I search for this on internet, I get confused about the region where they live.

Does someone know where to find a list of West African catfisch species. I am in particular interested in Synodontis and in general the smaller sized fishes. Species native to the area suit my interest most, but maybe the species are not that much tied to the area. Alle explanation to the subject is appreciated.

Regards,

André

[pleconut]

Hi one I've been looking out for myself is Mochokiella paynei it's a smaller catfish from sierra leone it can be kept in groups there's also a cotM article on the forum about this catfish.

[c.sterbai@gmail.com]

Thanks, but what is cotM?

[N0body Of The Goat]

http://www.planetcatfish.com/cotm/cotm. ... cle_id=383

[catfishchaos]

Thanks, but what is cotM?

Catfish Of The Month ;) A descriptive article about how someone has successfully maintained (and sometimes bred) a species.

Have you ever heard of microsynodontis?

[pleconut]

Thanks guys in last 2 posts I'm not technologically minded at all due to my recent research my 1st thought was Mochokiella paynei but linking to other sources on forum I'm still familiarising myself with.

[c.sterbai@gmail.com]

Thanks voor all answers. Following some links I found more species native to West Africa.

@catfishchaos: I never heard of microsynodontis before.

[catfishchaos]

I have no Idea what they have over there but in Canada the only sp I have ever seen was

Microsynodontis polli

[Birger]

Generally the last few years the same two species are being imported the most..

Microsynodontis polli

as said and

Microsynodontis sp(1)

. Throughout Europe even in Canada . These are also West African as most think of it.

Mochokiella paynei

is a great fish to keep and often available.

Synodontis robbianus

is a bit bigger but also considered small for a Synodontis, they do look much better when kept properly then usually portrayed.

For something else a little different but still a catfish have a look at the family

Schilbeidae

such as

Pareutropius buffei

from Cameroon/Nigeria waters.

Birger

[catfishchaos]

Not sure if these are from West africa but

Synodontis robertsi

would be a grand choice if it is!

[Birger]

Synodontis robertsi

is a Congo fish, as are

Synodontis nigriventris

and

Synodontis contractus

, all are great little Synodontis especially the nigriventris is impressive in groups.

Also moving back to Cameroon I am somewhat expecting more

Synodontis batesii

to be exported but it just has not happened yet.


Birger

[Schall]

Hi,

very well suited is Synodontis nigriventris of Micrososynodontis batesii.


Best regards
Marvin

[Syno1984]

I've kept Wild Microsynodontis imported as polli but appeared to be most likely just the sp. 1 undescribeds. They lived very well among Nanochromis transvestitus.

[pleconut]

Did the Nanochromis Transvestitus breed alongside the Microsynodontis.?

[Syno1984]

Yes but many times the catfish would get the eggs in the night depending on where they laid them. Other times they were successful

[pleconut]

Thanks for the information, its been a set up in mind for a while, with my interests in combining both Nanochromis Transvestitus and Mochokiella Paynei maybe also possibly with some Rocket Killifish, Epiyplatys Annulatus, that's if my further research shows these catfish won't consider them a snack!