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Hi! Right now I'm planning on setting up a mixed Rift Lake tank, about 70~125 gallons. But for bottom dwellers(not "scavengers") I'd like some African catfishes. But my only options are Synodontis eupterus and decorus. Right now I have two eupterus in my tank, but the decorus really catch my eye. Since they are expensive, I'm thinking about getting 2~3 of them. BUT the questions; would they get along with the eupterus and adjust to the hard water conditions? And are they okay with the aggresive Rift Lake cichlids? The eupterus are having no trouble in the tank, but I'm worried about adding the decorus. SO the main question is; Would 2~3 Synodontis decorus do well in a mixed African cichlid tank?
Besides synos, I'd like to add a few bristlenose plecos, they'd like the caves and shelters piled up for the cichlids. Is it okay?
Just as some people like cichlids, you guys must love catfishes, so please help!

Thanks

The best two would be and , which are Rift Lake species, and thus adapted to hard water and high pH.

Oh, forgot to mention....Those two are over $40 here so I can't afford them. Much too expensive...

Most fish are reasonably adaptable to a wider range of pH and hardness than their natural habitat, but they are obviously "happier" at the levels that the natural habitat holds.

Beware that there are "decorus" that aren't genuine ones, but hybrids made by crossing two different species.

--
Mats

and also keep in mind that the true decorus is a shy gentle giant and it should be kept in a small group (3-5).

it can be kept with malawian fish, but these should be the more mildmannered species. big Haps, Placidochromis, Otopharynx, Sciaenochromis freyeri, Aulonocara, Utaka like Copadichromis or Lethrinops and the like.

in a Mbuna-tank filled with 'pondscum' like Melanochromis, Pseudotropheus, Labeotropheus, Metriaclima etc decorus will not be happy. then eupterus is a much better choice, since this species is very tough and able to cope with those nasty cichlids.

and don't forget: I wrote "gentle giant' for that's what decorus is; a 10" to 1 foot long Syno when mature.....imagine the tanksize to keep 3-5 of these; you'll need a roomy tank.

eupterus maxes out at 6-8".

I have two large S. decorus, the biggest is @ 8 inches. They are in a 210 gallon tank with mild Africans (Protomelas, Aulonocara, etc.). I have a lot of other synodontids as well.

The decorus are very mild mannered, to say the least. They mostly lie about in one spot, unless food is present, in which case they feed actively. The other catfish and the cichlids don't appear to bother them.

The color pattern and the long dorsal filament in decorus are quite striking and very different looking from most synos, so I would highly recommend them.

Gee....Peaseful cichlids? I was thinking of Labidochromis caeruleus, Pseudotropheus acei, Cynotilapia afra and Metriaclima estherae(5 of each) But if the decorus don't like it(especailly the estherae), I'll just go frontosa

Fronts and decorus would be fine.
But would not put decorus in with active types you listed they are too shy.
Another point is the decorus are very nocternal,probably wont see them much unless feeding .

and don't add the Tanganyikan carnivore frontosa in with the Malawian herbivores you listed.

the carnivore diet will cause sickness in the herbivores or at least the Malawians will grow too big and will show bland colors.

malawian Mbuna's will nibble on the elongated ventrals of the frontosa's too.

when you give a herbivore diet the frontosa doesn't get enough to eat and may snack on the Malawians instead.

in all frontosa's as sole companions are better for decorus.

BUT then I worry about tanksize as well! frontosa males reach a foot and a half. females do reach 10" for sure. it's a fish that should be kept as a harem or bigger group.
now add the minimum of 3 decorus and even with a small harem you'll end up with this:
one 14-18" male frontosa
two or -better- three 8-11" frontosa females
three 12" decorus......

you'll need a roomy tank! anything less than 125-130G is NOT suitable for this set up.

"Going frontosa" means that I'll go for a frontosa species tank But I'll try to find a very big tank, bigger than the tank I have. By the way, my eupterus attacked a breeding pair of Pseudotropheus acei and stole their eggs. So they have scracthes on their sides. Every good thing come with a price, they seem to say . Oh, could I keep the eupteurs with decorus? Or is removing them the good idea?