Stocking question: small loaches and synodontis

squirrellyrabbit · Post by **squirrellyrabbit** » 21 Jun 2005, 01:39

Is it safe to keep these three fish together?

1 synodntis erupterus (about 2.5 inches)
1 synodontis anegelicus (about 4 inches)
9 chain loaches (about 1 or 1.5 inches)

I am concerned for the chain loaches, which are small. Will the syodontis prey on them?

Thanks.

Caol_ila · Post by **Caol_ila** » 21 Jun 2005, 10:08

Hi!

How big is your tank?

I dont have neither eupterus nor angelicus but my big Synos dont care about small (bottom dwelling) fish (like Microsynos or S.nigriventris)

squirrellyrabbit · Post by **squirrellyrabbit** » 21 Jun 2005, 15:14

They're in a 75 gallon. The chains are not entirely bottom dwelling. They swim in the middle water much of the day.

Caol_ila · Post by **Caol_ila** » 21 Jun 2005, 15:21

I wasnt entirely sure so i put it in brakets as the USD cats are also not ground oriented and dont get bothered by my big Synos. Have no experience with loaches though.

snowball · Post by **snowball** » 18 Sep 2005, 16:31

I'd be more worried about the two synodontis fighting!

S. eupterus are fairly peaceful but in my experience S. Anegelicus can be somewhat agressive.

however I don't think either would bother the Botia sidthimunki, they are fast and smart enough to get out of the way.

I have kept a pair of large Botia modesta with a large S eupterus and although they did occasionally squabble over the best logs - the eupterus occasionally showed some slash marks on her flanks made by the loach's eye spine, but these healed quite quickly - they never actually chased each other or fought as such.

Post by **Marc van Arc** » 18 Sep 2005, 20:53

I doubt that the Synos will prey on the Sidthis, but as the latter stay much smaller and are pretty nervous fish, I would keep my eyes open for incidents in which the Synos may chase the Sidthis. If this occurs frequently, I would get the Sidthis out of there; too nice a fish to be harrased by Synos, even if one is an angelicus.

DeepFriedIctalurus · Post by **DeepFriedIctalurus** » 18 Sep 2005, 21:57

If the eupterus never grows it's distinctive dorsal "featherfin", you'll know it's time to decide which Syno you like better!

I agree w/ the other comments on the Botias, they're very resilient fish. They'll probably be ignored by the Synos, which focus most all of their aggression towards other catfish (namely other Synos).

sidguppy · Post by **sidguppy** » 19 Sep 2005, 10:05

with sidhimunki's I wouldn't take the risk; it's a waste if it goes wrong; we're talking endangered species here......

It would be beyond any ethics to feed such a fish to a big Syno, even if it was by accident.

DeepFriedIctalurus · Post by **DeepFriedIctalurus** » 20 Sep 2005, 01:56

Very good point, we certainly aren't talking about some common yo-yos here!

Beersnob · Post by **Beersnob** » 21 Sep 2005, 03:37

I have angel loaches with my Eupterus. They know he's in charge, but they all get along.

sidguppy · Post by **sidguppy** » 21 Sep 2005, 10:56

what species is the Angel Loach??

DeepFriedIctalurus · Post by **DeepFriedIctalurus** » 21 Sep 2005, 19:07

Probably a deviation of an already overused common name for anything black with white/yellow spots (angelicus), since Botia kubotai often goes by that name. I prefer "Burmese Border loach" since it's descriptive & doesn't refer to a species of catfish. ;)

stallion81 · Post by **stallion81** » 27 Sep 2005, 00:12

I have kept Border loaches with both. I doubt you have to worry bout the loaches. Its the 2 Synos that will be a problem in the future. I forsee aggresion problems between the 2 in the future. But you never know, attitudes differentiate in fishies.

Beersnob · Post by **Beersnob** » 01 Oct 2005, 22:13

Yep they are Burmese Loaches (Kubotai)