Will S. Multipunctatus eat small cichlids?

MDoub · Post by **MDoub** » 05 Apr 2004, 20:33

I just lost two giant petricolas (4in and 6in) after they jumped out of my tank (I had covered the holes with hard plastic, but have since reinforced the coverings). It was awful.... They were great fish and didn't bother my juvenile cichlids at all. I'm wondering if three adult S. Multis would be equally amiable toward these fish in my 29g:

3 Alto. compressiceps (~3/4in.)
3 Alto. calvus (~3/4in.)
2 Juli. regani (~3/4in.)
1 common pleco (~3in.)

As I said, I had no trouble with the petricolas in this setup, and it is essentially a grow out tank until my 90g is ready to stock. Thanks in advance.

Matt

Post by **corybreed** » 05 Apr 2004, 20:39

You shouldn't have any problems with the multis in your 29g.
Mark

pturley · Post by **pturley** » 05 Apr 2004, 20:51

They are not likely to eat your fish, but I don't think three adult multis would fit in a 29 gallon. Way too cramped quarters for fish of this level of activity/size.

I'd wait til' the 90 is up and running before getting them.

Yann · Post by **Yann** » 05 Apr 2004, 21:14

Hi!

Aren't Syno the biggest predator group in Lake Tanganyika???
Cheers
Yann

Post by **Rusty** » 06 Apr 2004, 01:43

Maybe the larger ones like S. tanganaicae, but I doubt the smaller species are big predators. I'd worry more about fishing eagles and Bathybates than synos if I were a fish in the lake.

Rusty

Post by **Dinyar** » 06 Apr 2004, 04:05

yannfulliquet wrote:Hi!

Aren't Syno the biggest predator group in Lake Tanganyika???
Cheers
Yann

No. There are many predatory cichlÃ®ds in the Lake, and some predatory catfish, but Synodontis are not among the latter group. Synodontis are fairly easy-going omnivores. Some are a bit boisterous, but no Synodontis species in Lake Tang or elsewhere is an aggressive piscivore.

Dinyar

MDoub · Post by **MDoub** » 06 Apr 2004, 04:35

Thanks for all the great help. I haven't been around this forum too long, but it seems like a very knowledgeable group of catfish fans. I hope to continue to learn more.

Matt

sidguppy · Post by **sidguppy** » 06 Apr 2004, 11:37

don't worry about the Syno's.
they WILL eat fry when given the oppertinuty, but only real tiny fry; leftovers from cavedwelling cichlids and only the smallest babies from mouthbreeding cichlids.
Any fish bigger than 1/2-3/4" (>1cm) is perfectly safe.

As soon as fish are truly swimming (no "tadpoles" anymore), They're safe from Synodontis.

Phyllonemus and Lophiobagrus play a whole different ballgame, however!
Despite their moderate/small size as adult (4"or so), they can and will eat fish up to 1/3 of their own size.....

So you don't need a really big cat to get a piscivore catfish from Tanganyika.

Will S. Multipunctatus eat small cichlids?

Will S. Multipunctatus eat small cichlids?

Thanks!