An S.pulcher?

[LixuersMystus]

Is this an Synodontis pulcher?(black gravel and acidic water make its color dark...

[MatsP]

Possibly, but I'm afraid it looks closer to this:

Synodontis sp_hybrid(1)

Particularly the long dorsal spine is indicative of its S. euptera heritage.

--
Mats

[Richard B]

This is not S. Pulcher - it is a hybrid but i think it is Euptera x Ocellifer, whilst S.Hybrid sp.1 is Euptera x Multipunctata (AFAIK)

[LixuersMystus]

But None of the species you said hasve spots on its caudal fin...Only S.pulcher..

[Birger]

Long bent dorsal spine as mentioned and a general body shape of euptera heritage.
The humeral process is quite different to what S.pulcher would have and the adipose fin looks shorter, body shape different.
The humeral has a shape reminiscent of notata or similiar.

This is a hybrid...sorry! Unfortunately one that is not uncommon.
(But it looks healthy)

Birger

[Richard B]

But None of the species you said hasve spots on its caudal fin...Only S.pulcher..

Very few synos have spotted tails but many hybrid varieties do. S.Pulcher comes from the DRC where there are virtually no exports because of the wars going on - they might have a wider range than we think & one might get exported but the chances are virtually negligible.

Your fish unfortunately is definately a hybrid.

With hybrid synos, the "product" can bear no resemblence to the "ingredients" so you never know what you are gonna get. There is also what i have previously referred to as a 2nd generation hybrid (this is probably not a technically correct description) where, for example, a genuine nigrita is crossed with a (euptera x ocellifer) hybrid - iwho knows how far these crazies have gone with their meddling???