Synodontis decora: Will a 8" appreciate some 2" friends?

[N0body Of The Goat]

My local Aquajardin have a tank of young S. decora, which in hindsight I wish I had taken a a photo or video clip of earlier this week, as their markings looked considerably different to my single large specimen (no sign of whispy dorsal fin extension, caudal fins did not have discint black/white horizontal stripes).

Does anyone have experience that suggests buying some of these youngsters (if they are the "real McCoy" like my current one) would be beneficial for my large specimen, given their apparent social nature (I bought the last one last December)?
If so, how many would you suggest I buy?

[MatsP]

Sounds like they may be hybrids - check for "stripey tail" and branches on ALL of the barbels - even fairly small fish have dorsal extensions too (assuming they are not kept with nippers).

I have added smaller specimens to my larger ones in my RIO400 tank - they weren't as small as 2", but significantly smaller than the existing inhabitants. They aren't particularly aggressive in the first place, so I doubt it will be a problem.

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Mats

[N0body Of The Goat]

What a coinsidence, just seen your advert and the four large S. decora jumped out at me, but it sounds like you have found a great "fish-sitting" solution!

I think I will go back and get some footage, as the youngster photo in the e-catologue does look a little different to the adults, but from memory at the time the word "hybrids" sprang to mind. The store does have a bad knack of mixing fin nippers with fish that have substantial fins, which might explain the lack of dorsal entension, but then I also wondered if that developed as the fish got bigger.

[wrasse]

Hello mister!
I remember you at the cichlid conference...
Next March, get yourself up to the catfish convention. Its well worth the trip...

[Viktor Jarikov]

I have seen 2"-3"-ers with clear dorsal extensions.

The maxillary barbels also must be branched, just as all 4 mandibular ones but the "branches" on the maxillary (on the upper jaw near mouth corners) barbels are much smaller vs. those on mandibular (chin) barbels. With such small fish, you will need a very good close-up to discern their presence or absence. I could barely see them on my 4" decora but after some effort, they were clearly there.

Syno hybrid thread might be of great help in your case. http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/view ... =8&t=28659
(Mod edit added link, Birger)

[MatsP]

Another clue might be to ask the LFS for where the fish came from - Czech republic is the source of a vast number of hybrids.

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Mats

[N0body Of The Goat]

Having began to think about looking into buying some more S. decora from "Tropical fish 2 your door" during this past week, I had a promising phonecall from Romsey's World Of Water this morning...

Apparently, they have ~20 S. decora youngsters in stock, which sounded as if they have the horizontal striping on the caudal fin (unlike those Valentino hybrids mislabelled at Aquajardin).

I've barely been restrained enough to stop a drive over there today, while my better half was talking about us going together on Monday (so she can see the guinea pigs and fancy mice), but I forsee a trip happening tomorrow morning... Fingers crossed they are "the real McCoy!"

[senil]

Really enlightening discussion about the S. decora and with so much of details about them, I am sure that I’ll also be able to identify them. I didn’t know that the hybrids came from Czech Republic – just goes to show how well we have to do our homework – will check up on that!!