PlanetCatfish.com

I may have an opportunity to purchase one of these from someone who's had one for a long time. Looking to hear about your experiences with this species.

I've read that they are on the aggressive side and that they can get quite large. But the same could be said for some of my other synodontids.

I do have a relatively large tank (210 gallons) with lots of wood, but I also have lots of synos (@ 50), so I don't want to create problems.

Thanks for your help.

Fifty Syno's are a lot for a 210 gallon tank. S. ornatipinnis is worth getting if you can. They are hardly ever available. The few people I knew who owned them kept single fish in their own tanks. The fish were quite costly.If you have another tank purchase them.

Mark

Keep in mind that almost all fish sold as Synodontis ornatipinnis are hybrids. Not saying that this one is, just that 99.9% of them are.

50 synos in a 210g tank sounds like a lot, unless they are mostly small varieties.

I don't know what things are like where you are but in the uk ornatipinnis often turn out to be hybrids & are not seen that often. Some i have seen in the past week are not what i would call ornatipinnis (like in the cat-e-log) but with a much more intricate maze pattern & look stunning - good looking , healthy fish but possibly hybrids.

Genuine ones are great but in adulthood look very similar to decorus - any chance of a photo prior to purchase for a more informed opinion?

No news on the ornatipinnis yet.

I do have 3 large individuals (@5inches) of the hybrid species with the dark black reticulated pattern (see the aqualog article mentioned in the "Synodontis hybrid" thread from Sept 9th). Mine are even darker than the photo in the article and are quite attractive (although one has a slightly deformed sloping head).

50 catfish may sound like a lot, but they have been doing pretty well for the past few years (i.e., they keep growing and have fat bellies, and don't fight with each other). About half are larger than 4 inches, half smaller. I have several large pieces of Malaysian wood that provide lots of good habitat.