Syno Petricola fighting

BumbleFish · Post by **BumbleFish** » 14 Sep 2004, 17:32

Hi all,
I have a question about syno petricola. Last weekend, I purchased 4 petricola at a club auction. I already had one petricola in the tank (55g, 78oF, 18dKH, 25dGH, pH 8.3) who has been alone for a year (the blackout in the North East last year caused me major problems...)

I introduced the 4 new catfish, 2 of which were a "failed" breeding pair. IMO, they are a touch too small to breed at 2.5-2.75". The other 2 are very yound juveniles at about 1.5" each.

Anyway, my original petricola male is larger than the rest (about 4+ years old at about 4" purchased from Jerry M.) and is not enjoying the new arrivals. In fact, I believe he has injured the new male petricola. Specifically, I think the victim had part of his left-side caudal? spine bitten off and is now tucking the injured limb to his side and trying to avoid the larger catfish when ever possible.

I had no idea syno petricola could be this rough on each other.

Do you think this behavior will settle down? I've never heard of such territorality in the species before. Seeing as my largest syno has been alone for about a year, I suspect he's not accustomed to other synos around, and the female is reaching breeding size.

Also, the tank is practically barren of cichlids at this time, with 4 small juvenile julie ornatus and 2 tiny scienachromis fryeiri fry in there (couldn't catch them when I cleared all the malawi's out of there.) In other words, there are no cichlids to interrupt the syno's interactions.

Can you offer any advice or information as to what I can expect?

Thanks!

Post by **Silurus** » 14 Sep 2004, 17:49

Rearrange the tank decor. That might help.

pturley · Post by **pturley** » 14 Sep 2004, 18:23

The behavior is common and to be expected. Synodontis frequently reaccess the dominance heirarchy. The size difference may prove to be a bit of a problem for the new (smaller) fish.

Try to get a good surplus of caves (including some VERY small ones for the juvi. fish.) and other hiding spots for the new fish. They are tough and will likely recover if properly cared for.

HH's suggestions would help provided some semblence of peace hasn't already been established. If it has, you'll only be stirring up the fight again.

Rickzfish · Post by **Rickzfish** » 15 Sep 2004, 02:23

Wow, I keep dozens of petricola of various sizes in the same tank, and have witnessed fighting, but not to the degree of bodily injury like that. I agree with rearanging the the decor or adding some new hiding spots, but you may also want to try and quarantine the largest in a trap housed within the main tank for a week or so, and let the others find their places, then reintroduce the larger male.

BumbleFish · Post by **BumbleFish** » 15 Sep 2004, 03:20

Thanks everyone for your replies.

At this point, the injured syno (male) is now behaving and dealing with the larger fish well enough. The newcomer seems to lazily tilt his body while the aggressor comes from behind and seems to know his place now. The injured side fin (caudal?) is not clamped anymore, although the tip is still missing. Cracked off like a the tip of a thorn.

I thought it was really interesting that the points of his 'business' fins were what were injured. Reminds me that petricola spines are venomous. Seems interspecies-wise, they know that as well! The oldtimer spends most his time now trailing the female. If he sees the other male he gives him some minor trouble. Who knows; enough blackworms and and another year, they may spawn!

I can't seem to locate one of the juvie petricola. I checked the conch shells, but I assume that missing juvie is either doa or chilling somewhere acclimating.

I have high confidence (and hopes...) that these fish will be fine long term. All the fish are finding the 4 or 5 blackworms I'm putting in there a day. The ******d flakes and BS are found as well. I should just put the light out and stay away for a week!

Just in case, I'll do a 20% water change tomorrow, ahead of schedule and at a lesser volume.

Thanks again.

PS: I love how c****l*d is nixed on this forum! GJ admin! Fun little extra here!

sidguppy · Post by **sidguppy** » 15 Sep 2004, 08:00

I've seen petricola's fight and really mutilate each other; including missing whiskers, ripping the skin off each others' nose, split fins, badly scratched skin etc.

these guys can be incredably nasty to each other!
BUT I haven't lost a single one, ever; only juvies to overeating. They're very very hardy, and even the big upperjaw whiskers regenerate completely.

right now I'm having the same difficulties as there's a war going on between the 2 S 'sp Giant petricola' and the 7 petricola's from Burundi......unfortunately it's been going on for months, so I made the decision to ditch the giants (I DO have a Burundi-setup, or at least try to have one

).

I don't fear deaths (it will not happen; tank's big enough at 132G), but before that I often saw the Burundi's spawning, and I'm not in the hybrid-business, so to speak
the male Giant has an unholy taste for gravid Burundi-females and the 2 Burundi-males aren't the kind to let him go at it unmolested

not that fry survives in a tank crammed with cichlids, spiny eels and other scum, but still.

I wouldn't worry, Bumblefish.

my first group of dwarfs was built up one or two fish at the time, and I've seen lots of fighting. they're very tough and heal very good.

BumbleFish · Post by **BumbleFish** » 21 Sep 2004, 13:53

Thanks for the replies all.

A quick update. They're still at it a week later. They look like they are getting a bit tired.

Also, I noticed another behavior I've never seen in the Petricola before. They have started 'body slamming' and pushing each other around. They point their caudal spikes straight out and attempt to stab each other during the body slams with the spines, like a pick-axe manuever. This behavior comes and goes.

Noone is getting totally brutalized, but I can see why they were chewing off each others spikes a few days ago! The only negative from this behavior is that they flash their flanks on the gravel occasionally. I suspect this is due to the jabbing, as they are the only inhabitants that feel the need to do this. None of the cichlids in the tank do it.

I wonder if these 3 adults are males now. I'll do a seach on sexing them.

BumbleFish · Post by **BumbleFish** » 04 Oct 2004, 18:39

Only 2 weeks since introducing these 2 new adult petricolas. At this point, the female is looking really tired, as both males petition her for nooky. She will even take brief 'naps' when she can shake both males for a couple minutes. I wonder if she's gravid, since her belly is somewhat distended.

Does this tired female sound worrisome?

BumbleFish · Post by **BumbleFish** » 05 Oct 2004, 02:34

Studied images of gravid female syno pets. She's certainly gravid. They look like they're mating in my saki bottle intended for the Julidochromes. No surprise. Saving the fry at this point isn't what I'm after. Im just worried about her and getting enough rest.