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Synodontis granulosus rarity myth or truth?
Posted: 06 Mar 2004, 07:56
by Mika
Elson and Lucanus book Catfish
says:"Unfortunately,fewer than 50 Synodontis granulosus are caught each year in the deep waters mostly off the coast of burundi in northern Lake Tanganyika, although the fish is found every in the lake"
As most of us know the price of this species is way too much for average hobbyist to purchase.It ranges from 300 euros to 500 e! Is the limited supply of this fish kept artificially low for maximal financial benefit? The area is politically unstable but is that the reason? I know that it is hard to catch these catfishes but they do catch hypancistrus zebras too, not any joyful job to do! I´d like someday get a small group of these but ain´t willing to pay over 1000 e for that. A dream possibly never to happen
Posted: 06 Mar 2004, 12:18
by Silurus
I don't think they are that rare in the wild. It's just that deep-water habitats are notoriously difficult to sample adequately.
Posted: 06 Mar 2004, 17:51
by Barbie
And from what I'd heard, they tend to range singly, not in groups, so they have to be individually collected. I have a hard time catching synos in my 55 gallon at times, let alone chasing a single one around a lake bottom 
Barbie
Posted: 07 Mar 2004, 13:25
by sidguppy
That's what I hear too, from several people who've been at the lake several times.
Add political instability (read war, genocide, children-soldiers and landmines everywhere), widespread corruption, diseases, the pricetag of having to lug scuba-gear all over the place, and the fact that this is indeed a deepwaterfish.....
usual scuba diving takes place in the upper 40 meters or so.
S granulosus is much more common at 50-60 meters and beyond; this will make sure only experienced divers with very good equipment can get at them.
and yes, it's a big, fast catfish with a whole dark lake to evade clumsy humans with flippers.....
It's also a much more "open water fish" than S multipunctatus or petricola, wich tend to "hug" the rocks much more.
Simply dragging a big net through the lake won't work; due to decompression, most fish will be dead if you haul it up!
Posted: 07 Mar 2004, 15:14
by Rusty
Simply dragging a big net through the lake won't work; due to decompression, most fish will be dead if you haul it up!
Yes, IIRC the collectors use giant anchored cages to slowly bring the fish up. Supposedly takes several days to allow the fish caught at depth to off gas.
Rusty
Posted: 22 Mar 2004, 23:36
by Oscar52
Hi
just looking through the forum and these fish have been offered for sale at one of the wholesalers we use so they cant be that rare !!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted: 22 Mar 2004, 23:40
by Barbie
I personally know two people that have them on their availability lists, and 3 more that have them in tanks at home. The price tag on them is still well over 200 dollars, due to their scarcity. The presence of them on lists doesn't mean they aren't rare, the price being that high is a good sign they aren't regularly collected though.
Barbie
Posted: 22 Mar 2004, 23:54
by Oscar52
Hi
the price tag on these in the uk was only £19.95 + VAT (17.5%) not a lot for a great looking fish this was of course trade price.
Posted: 23 Mar 2004, 00:00
by Barbie
The problem is that the tank raised fish seem to be some form of hybrid. Not actually S. granulosus. I have trusted friends that have seen both and say they are not the same fish. I can see where the hybrids would be considerably cheaper, as the demand has not caught on for them at all. They tend to be a specialty fish, and noone wants anything that might not be the real McCoy, IME.
Barbie
Posted: 23 Mar 2004, 00:34
by Oscar52
You could and i am sure you are right catfish are a second love for me the cichlids my first love.
I am sure these must be hybrids
Posted: 23 Mar 2004, 02:35
by Rusty
IIRC, a member of this forum, Greggo, has both the "captive bred" and real deal. The hybrids lose their bright coloring early on and turn a uniform grayish, similar to S. sorex. S. sorex may be a possible species in the mix that forms the hybrids.
Rusty
Posted: 26 Mar 2004, 18:34
by caudalis
I have both as well and the colour is very different. The hybrid is a pale greyish with small spots over the body. The fin margins are pale as well and nothing like the striking white of the real thing.
I have thought that sorex could be one of the parents used in the hybrid.
But one thing that is very similar between both is the humeral process. The shape of both is the same but the hybrids is not so chunky or heavy.