Tank biotope congo for Synodontis nigriventris

[kiwidu21]

Hello,
while waiting to be able to accommodate S. granulosus in their tank, I plan to attempt the reproduction of Synodontis nigriventris. I have 7 specimens (4 of 8 years old and 3 of 4 years old).
I have at my disposal a 160l tank (100 x 40 x 40 cm) which will be entirely dedicated to them.

The decor will be almost entirely composed of fairly large roots (which I already have). I would also like to add some plants for the balance of the tank. I only find anubias and bolbitis, are there other plants that are also found in their natural environment?
According to Planetcatfish, they come from Rubi, a watercourse passing through Buta in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but I can't find any information regarding the plants or the temperatures of this watercourse.

Do you have any information about this biotope?

[Bas Pels]

As far as I know, they come from the last part of the Rio Congo, which is contrarily to what one would expect, a fast flowing river.

That would imply a lot of current in the tank, with also lots of dissolved oxygen. The Congo will most likely have soft, mildly acidic, water. Say pH 6 to 6.5 and hardness below 8 DH. The river is tropical, and at sea level. So the same temperature as downstream Amazone bioptopes - 27 C or more, would apply.

[Jools]

They don't live in the main river though, rather vegetation clogged feeder streams.

Jools

[kiwidu21]

They don't live in the main river though, rather vegetation clogged feeder streams.

Jools

Do you know what vegetation it is?

[Jools]

I don't, going from memory, but I read that they were collected in large number (I think with ropefish,

Erpetoichthys calabaricus

too). I think grasses, but not certain.

This might help visualise it. But also much smaller, almost static, streams too.

Jools

[bekateen]

This might help visualise it. But also much smaller, almost static, streams too.

Jools

Weirdly, the link didn't work for me. So let's see if I can use the img function to display it.

Cheers, Eric

[kiwidu21]

OK so I'm going to go with 2 feet of Anubias barteri. As the tank will be in black water, do you advise me to still put plants on the surface? I know synos don't like the light too much.

[Birger]

They do like to have caves with overhangs to hang out under. The females will claim a overhang.
I would if I was to do this again set up one tank for just a single pair.
As well as a group situation.

[Viktor Jarikov]

Oh, great photo. Serenity now! Thank you Eric.

The link didn't work for me either.

[kvnbyl]

what a cool picture! makes me regret not flying (medical reason)

[kiwidu21]

Thank you !
There will be a lot of coconuts and roots, I'll post a photo once the tank is full of water.

I will first keep them in groups. If I see that the reproduction works I would leave them like that. If on the other hand I still have no reproduction, I would see to separate couples but I am unfortunately afraid of having only one female in the group of 7.

[Shane]

As Jools noted, they are collected in feeder streams/rivers of the Congo near Brazzaville. There is a surprising number of papers on the net with information about the rivers and their ichthyofauna. The Djiri, for example, is home to this sp and many other Synos available in the hobby.
-Shane

[kiwidu21]

Hello,

I come to give you news, the baccalaureate is finished! The emerged part still lacks development (I'm waiting for the anubias to gain volume) but the water part is done. I added, after the photo, Anubias barteri but I have a doubt on the fact that they grow given the little light they receive.
After sexing, it looks like I have 2 females and 5 males. To see if a particular couple is formed.
So I put in some coconuts (7 from memory, one per fish) and a spawning tube for loricaridae (I thought they might like it). As some of these hiding places are not visible at all, I don't take the risk of moving them to check if they are inside. They come to feed so I know they are all there.

What do you think of this tank? Changes to make?

[Jools]

It looks nice, especially if they start swimming underneath the large leaf? Personal preference, but I'd have a little more open sand.

Jools

[Jools]

I managed to track down an image of the species in nature. The black dots in the undernoted link to a pic shows USD cats (black dots at the surface) in what looks like a restricted body of water towards the end of the dry season.

Jools
https://www.planetcatfish.com/common/im ... e_id=22563

Thanks to Cédrick Boulan, Brazzaville, for permission to reproduce the pic here.

[Woodh]

Looks cool but abit much glare on pics, would like additional ones