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When they fight, what are they trying to do to each other? It kind of looks like they are trying to bite each other, but I wondered if they are trying to stab each other with their barbs?

And they I wondered what I would do if they (a) got stuck together or (b) ripped chunks out of each other?

I've had them for almost a year and no injuries, and I understand the squabbling is normal. Just curious.

Within my mixed community of lake synos (multis, gandiops, lucipnnis, petricola, polli, dhonti, granulosus, ilebrevis?, sp.2, & some unknowns) there is always a litle aggro. often i can see bite/scratch marks but nothing much serious, generally this manefests itself as white patches or scrapes on the fishes skin but doesn't last long. Granulosus are the worst but really only amongst themselves, but their aggression can be severe with each other.

Squabbles are initiated to confirm pecking order & re-affirm fvourite hiding spots. I've not seen them spike each other or take out any chunks.

My tanganyikans are not too bad, similiar to what Richard experienced....but with my riverine S.angelica they will sometimes bite just behind the top of the head and I have seen small wounds around the pectoral area which I think "may" be from being spiked....but this happens only when the balance of the tank is interrupted.

interesting topic

so far i've observed 5 types of fighting in Synodontis. i mean real fights, not trying to squeeze in a crammed crevice full of spiny catfishes.

type 1, waving-stab:
the fish lay next to each other; heads pointing in the same direction. one of the fishes does a barrelroll and they make waving motions trying to stab each other with the pectorals. sometimes one of the fish even turns completely upside down. this often leads to longitunal white scratches on the sides.

type 2, soixante-neuf fight.
the fish lay next to each other but now they're 69, head to tail. the same barrelrolls occur and also the waving motions and the stabbing. but often this type goes into type 3. this can turn into a nipping fest and the scratches are centered on the hindquarters.

type 3, the ring:
starts out as type 2, but now the fish start chasing each other. they're so close that their bodies form a solid "ring" and while they stick together they can do this in any dimension; i've seen 2 syno's lying upside down or even in a vertical pane doing this.
when they start biting during this type they damage each others' caudal fin, especially the pointy ends.

type 4, the raspel:
this happens when a "ring' breaks up or when an overly dominant fish is punishing another fish. the chasing fish who's boss swims on top or to one of the sides of the chasey and raspels skin off his victim.
this fight often results into large grey area's on the head or flanks or damaged dorsal and adipose fins.

type 5, the mouthpull
this is something that I've seen most in the wide-mouthed species from tanganyika; S lucipinmnis, S polli, s petricola etc.
2 fish are nose to nose. they grab each other by the upper lip and pull
this can lead to some serious damage, i've seen lucipinnis ripping each others' upper lip completely off! whiskers and all....
fortunately the regenerating abilities of these species are almost like Axolotls; i've also seen complete missing upper lips and the large mandibular whiskers growing back.

2 days ago I've see'n a completely different fight between 2 non-Synodontis (check avatar), I'll post some pix later

Very good info Sid

My fish (multis/grandiops) appear to have scratches from "type1" but also bite marks on the nuchal plate/occipital process as a semi-regular occurrance.

In addition the big granny can do "a total number" on one of the smaller grannys (dorsal & caudal ripped to pieces, & multiple posterior body scratches) This happened over the course of a week on one time only. The big granny came from a smaller tank than mine where 2 were kept together with no problems whatsoever, although they looked suspiciously/hungrily(?) at the 8 juvie frontosa in there. Additionally i have countless tales from others of real problems keeping more than one in a tank, but strangely several accounts of complete harmony between multiple specimens.

that was great Sid.

My eupterus's do the bump bump thing. They are side to side with noses in same direction and they bump into each other. I have also seen the circle chasing just slow then fast.

Jesus, I hope I never see the mouth pull!!

good stuff Sid!