Synodontis multipunctata - Back to Care of Each Species Page


    Water Conditions- Not Critical. Temp 72- 80 Degrees, Plants, Vegetable in Diet
    Behavior-  Generally well behaved, very social, can be aggressive with one another.
    Breeding- Parasitic "Cuckoo" type reproduction using mouthbrooding cichlids
    Size- 5 inches

    Some question exists as to the proper identification of this fish, many claiming that this fish, kept
    in the hobby, are actually Synodontis grandiops, as true S. multipunctata are said to reach a much
    larger size. Fin counts have been done on this line of Synodontis, which also seems to confirm this
    population as S. grandiops, and not S. multipunctata. However, used as a subject of research at a local
    university for over 20 years, it has been historically identified as S. multipunctata. At this point,
    these are still identified as S. multipunctata.

    This fish is a hardy eater, but is best fed a vegetable based dry food similar to the diet fed other
    Tangyanikan fish. Though this fish appears more tolerant of higher protein foods, we still feed
    richer foods sparingly.

    A highly social fish, they will group together and hide in any dark area available to them. PVC pipe,
    caves, pots, etc. are essential for this fish to thrive comfortably. They will frequently stay out in the
    open, but require safe places to hide where they can escape to quickly.

    Females can be identified by a fuller, rounder body, possibly carrying eggs, with a rounded ovipositor
    opening near the anus. The males are thinner and possess a pointed male organ similar to that seen on
    many cichlids.

    When kept in a large tank with a mating pair of mouthbrooding cichlids, they may breed when the
    cichlids do. The catfish keeps a close eye on their cichlid host tankmates, and then time their own
    egglaying and fertilization to that of the the cichlids. Not all mouthbrooding species can be
    parasitized, but C. horei are their natural hosts. Diagramma simichromis and babaulti both work,
    as well as H. obliquidens, Red and Albino zebras, and others. When a female cichlid is seen carrying,
    gently shake (strip) the eggs from the female's mouth, and the smaller catfish eggs can be seen.
    The eggs can then be hatched in an egg tumbler and fry raised separately. If left together the catfish
    will hatch and feed upon the cichlid fry. If there are not enough cichlid fry available, the catfish will then
    feed upon one another. When moved from a tumbler to a 10 gallon tank to be raised, the catfish fry
    will literally double in size on a daily basis with frequent- 2-3xs per day feedings of first vinegar eels
    or microworms, and then newly hatched brine shrimp. Unfortunately, even with adequate feeding, 
    they can be cannibalistic, and an interruption in feeding during the first couple weeks could result
    in a quick reduction in the size of the brood.

    They are generally very peaceful with tankmates, but may be rough with one another, where the
    need to remove an individual to heal an abrasion or two is sometimes necessary. Those type of
    injuries generally occur when first getting established into a new tank, and territories are fist being
    claimed, or when pair bonding is being established.

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