Quick Care Details (Table)
| Livestock Characteristics | Value |
|---|---|
| Care Level | Moderate |
| Temperament | Semi-Aggressive |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Maximum Size | 8 Inches |
| Minimum Tank Size | 50 Gallons |
| Plant Safe | Yes |
| Temperature Range | 75-82F |
| PH Range | 6.5-7.5 |
| KH Range | 4-15 |
Species Specific Categories
Helpful Video
Care Details
- Aquascape: The Synodontis Eupterus, also known as the Featherfin Catfish, enjoys an environment that mimics its natural habitat. This includes a rocky bottom with an abundance of driftwood, large roots, and crevices. These provide perfect hiding spots for the fish to hide from predators and scavenge for food.
- Substrate: Since the Featherfin is a bottom dweller and loves to dig and scrape the river bottom, the substrate of the tank must be kept well-maintained and clean. A soft substrate is recommended.
- Disease Prevention: Good water conditions are necessary as the Featherfin Catfish is sensitive to nitrates. Regular water changes and good tank maintenance can help prevent diseases.
- Filtration: A good filtration system is necessary to maintain water quality and remove waste products.
- Lighting: The lighting should be diffused, possibly with floating vegetation, as these fish are more comfortable in lower light conditions.
- Water Flow: The Featherfin Catfish prefers a current in the aquarium, similar to the rivers it naturally inhabits.
- Hardiness: The Featherfin Catfish is considered to be a very hardy fish, capable of tolerating many different water conditions.
- Acclimation: Like all fish, the Featherfin Catfish should be slowly acclimated to new water conditions to avoid stress.
- Expected Lifespan: The typical Synodontis Catfish lifespan is between eight and ten years in a well-maintained environment.
- Special Requirements: The tank must have multiple hiding spots for them to feel comfortable. Also, the substrate must be kept clean and soft since they enjoy the bottom of the tank.
Temperament and Behavior
- Behavior: The Featherfin Catfish is known for its unique sound-producing abilities. The squeaking is accomplished by rubbing the spines of its pectoral fins into grooves on its shoulders. This sound is a defense mechanism against predators and competing Featherfins during mating season. It is also a way of communicating with one another in dark places, caves, and around the driftwood.
- Breeding: Breeding has not been achieved under natural conditions in aquaria, although captive breeding has occurred on commercial fish farms via the use of hormone injections.
- Aggression: This species becomes territorial as it matures, it becomes especially aggressive with other Synodontis and even more with its conspecifics.
- Tankmates Compatibility: The Featherfin Catfish can cohabit with many different species and is easy to feed, but they can be temperamental at times.
- Activity Level: An interesting fact about this species is that they enjoy swimming upside down as they search every nook and cranny of the river bed, under the rocks, and inside crevices.
- Schooling or Shoaling Behavior: It can be maintained in a small group in a suitably sized aquarium, provided each fish is given a refuge to call home.
- Plant Compatibility: Planting is beneficial but not essential. However, floating vegetation is recommended in order to diffuse the light entering the tank.
Diet and Nutrition
- Dry Foods: Synodontis Eupterus, also known as the Featherfin Catfish, will accept dry foods, but it should not be the main part of their diet.
- Frozen Foods: They enjoy frozen foods like bloodworms and brine shrimp. These foods are packed with nutrients and are easy to store and feed.
- Live Foods: Live foods are a favorite of the Featherfin Catfish. They relish live insects and will eagerly take any spiders or flies that you can catch. They also enjoy small mealworms and other live foods.
- Vegetables: While they are omnivorous, vegetables are not a significant part of their diet. However, they do enjoy the occasional blanched zucchini or cucumber.
- Algae: Algae is not a primary food source for the Featherfin Catfish. They prefer a diet of insects and small fish.
- Feeding Schedule: These fish are bottom feeders and feed at all levels of the tank. It’s important to ensure they are getting their share of food. A regular feeding schedule would be beneficial.
- Supplemental Foods: Supplemental foods such as prawn and small fish can be included in their diet. These provide additional nutrients and add variety to their meals.
Tank Parameters
- Tank Size: A minimum tank size of 30-40 gallons is recommended for a single Synodontis Eupterus. However, larger species may require even larger tanks of 50-75 gallons or more.
- Tank Length and Measurements: The width of the tank is more important than the depth. A long and shallow aquarium is ideal as it creates more surface area allowing these bottom-swimming fish to scavenge around easily.
- Water Temperature: The water temperature should be kept between 75 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
- pH (Acidity/Alkalinity): The pH level should be maintained between 6.5 to 7.5.
- KH (Carbonate Hardness): Information on the specific carbonate hardness (KH) for Synodontis Eupterus is not readily available, but they are known to prefer slightly soft water.
- GH (General Hardness): Similarly, the general hardness (GH) is not specified, but soft water conditions are generally preferred.
- Hardiness: Synodontis Eupterus is considered to be a very hardy fish, capable of tolerating many different water conditions.
- Nitrate (NO3) levels: While specific nitrate levels are not mentioned, maintaining low nitrate levels is crucial for the health of any aquarium fish. Regular water changes and good tank maintenance can help keep nitrate levels in check.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I identify a Synodontis Eupterus?
Their body is dark brown with a few isolated small spots; adults have a dorsal fin in which each ray extends into long filaments that look like a feather, giving it the common name of Featherfin Syno. All of that, in combination with their three pairs of barbels, give us an adorable fish that is generally considered very cute. An interesting fact about this species is that they enjoy swimming upside down as they search every nook and cranny of the river bed, under the rocks, and inside crevices.
What is the behavior of Synodontis Eupterus?
The Synodontis Eupterus is known for its unique sound-producing abilities. The squeaking is accomplished by rubbing the spines of its pectoral fins into grooves on its shoulders. This sound is a defense mechanism against predators and competing Synodontis Eupterus during mating season. It is also a way of communicating with one another in dark places, caves, and around the driftwood.
What is the diet of Synodontis Eupterus?
Synodontis Eupterus will accept dry foods, but it should not be the main part of their diet. They enjoy frozen foods like bloodworms and brine shrimp. These foods are packed with nutrients and are easy to store and feed. Live foods are a favorite of the Synodontis Eupterus. They relish live insects and will eagerly take any spiders or flies that you can catch. They also enjoy small mealworms and other live foods.
What are the ideal water conditions for Synodontis Eupterus?
The water temperature should be kept between 75 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit. The pH level should be maintained between 6.5 to 7.5. Information on the specific carbonate hardness (KH) for Synodontis Eupterus is not readily available, but they are known to prefer slightly soft water. Similarly, the general hardness (GH) is not specified, but soft water conditions are generally preferred.
What is the ideal tank size for Synodontis Eupterus?
A minimum tank size of 30-40 gallons is recommended for a single Synodontis Eupterus. However, larger species may require even larger tanks of 50-75 gallons or more.
