PlanetCatfish.com

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/three-malawi-wild ... 1c0e586c3e

The add says it's wild caught from lake malawi which should mean s.njassae but it seems vastly different. Any thoughts anyone - a misidentified species, hybrid?

I'm no expert at all Richard, but don't think it's S.nyasse...it has a vague look of S.acanthomias to me, but think it is definitely misidentified.
Martin

Looks very nice syno but I have no clue about species. And if Richard don't have any idea about species it have to be odd ball

I know that the fishermans at Lake Malawi have catched some other species of Synodontis as well(not njassae) and it has been brown. Maybe this one is same species? Of course it can be some riverine species origin close to Malawi.

I agree it doesn't look like s.njassae, but neither does it look like a hybrid. I'd say this is a genuine species, but which I have no idea.

Since the "common pleck" that he's also selling (why on earth would you keep that in a Malawi tank???) is in fact a pretty nice P. joselimaianus, the info on the origin of this syno might not be accurate.

BTW, ebay uk really allows you to sell live fish?

I agree with Martin that it looks like acanthomias. As far as I am aware the only Syno from LM is nyassae(?) and its not that species.

IMHO this fish is very distinct from acanthomias on a number of features - head shape, adipose fin & body patterning. I agree it appears genuine but what it could be intrigues me...

Sunfish - yes livestock can be sold on ebay in the UK

Richard B wrote:IMHO this fish is very distinct from acanthomias on a number of features - head shape, adipose fin & body patterning. I agree it appears genuine but what it could be intrigues me...

I only meant visually and the overall shape was reminiscent of acanthomias, but as quoted earlier

jippo wrote:And if Richard don't have any idea about species it have to be odd ball

, then who knows!
Martin

I toyed with getting these as with a few hours to go it looks like 3 fish for £10 at the moment but i just checked where they are - Newcastle is a bit of a trek to collect

I do not think Acanthomias

There is something tugging at my thoughts on this one but I have to go to work and will look later.


I think it's coloration would change if over dark gravel and then we may get a more natural color to look at.

Birger

Richard B wrote:I toyed with getting these as with a few hours to go it looks like 3 fish for £10 at the moment but i just checked where they are - Newcastle is a bit of a trek to collect

Ah, go on. 3 cool "Guess what" Syno for a tenner. We all would like to know what they are. And you are at least in the same country.

I'm really guessing here, but somehow they remind me of S. melanosticta (or maybe S. nigromaculata).

looks like a genuine synodontis to me

as for "Malawian", well.....anyone can put up a fish and say it's "THE Malawian Syno" just to sell it quicker

of all the cichlidcommunities in the US Malawi is by far the most popular, since many Malawi fish are very colorful and easy to keep.

hence the Malawian syno is in demand.

hence the 'success' with foisting off hydrids, or in this case, wildcaught syno's that DO resemble the S njassae, but aren't.

it's all just a case of 'follow the money'. when is it not?

I think it is one of the south-eastern species, something like S.zambezensis which has a lot of variation between populations and again I think the light colored sand is messing with it's pigmentation.

I just noticed this & I think it's very similar to my Featherfin Syno A.K.A. Synodontis euptera.

I know the top fin isn't exact but the head, body & eyes are. Mine is also about 6" now.

http://www.planetcatfish.com/cotm/cotm. ... icle_id=50

I just noticed this & I think it's very similar to my Featherfin Syno A.K.A. Synodontis euptera.

I know the top fin isn't exact but the head, body & eyes are. Mine is also about 6" now.

Raz, your fish is a S,euptera they have a higher body than the fish shown in the ebay add. Overall a different look to me.

Birger