synodontis euperterus growth rate?

[dave76]

I just got a new featherfin for my cichlid tank. He is about 1". pH 7.8 gh 150 kh 300 in a 100 gallon. Tankmates are a 5" Green Terror, 1.5" JD, 1" texas, 4.5" pimelodus pictus, 5" striped raphael, 2" firemouth and a couple of ghost shrimp with a strong will to live. eventually I will make some changes to the stocking but for now my water quality is perfect. Back to the point. I have read that these fish are very long lived. Does that mean that they take a long time to reach thier full size? Are they sexable? Are they always playful. It took him a good week or so to come out of hiding but now that he has he takes great delight is swimming under my cichlids and chasing some of them around.

Any info or advice on this matter would be helpful.

[dave76]

bump*

I have also read conflicting information about weather or not these fish are social among thier own species.... if I keep one is he going to be bored? If I keep two or more will they get along?

[ChilDawg]

I don't think that Lace Synos get bored alone...from my research on the subject last month, it seems to be acceptable to keep them solo...there's nothing that says that they must have other fish around, including conspecifics.

[dave76]

The reason I ask is he seemed playful before, now he just sits on the underside of a stump all the time. I guess that could be that he is only about 1.5-2" now and my GT is around 5, I know he is eating and growing. His nice swollen belly shows me that, but I was wondering if I added another if they might come out more often?

[ChilDawg]

That's a good question...but aren't they nocturnal/crepuscular anyway? They might not come out during the day if that's the case!

[dave76]

I have read that they are not nocturnal/crepular, and tend to be playful during the day eating with cichlids. I imagine he feels threatened, when he does come out in the open it is only to shoot over to a new covered area, I do have a striped raphael in the tank as well who is nocturnal, and vary rarely do I ever even see him.

[ChilDawg]

That's one hell of an aggressive tank, Dave! I wouldn't be surprised if he isn't enjoying his time there and feels the need to hide full-time...maybe you just have an odd individual who is scared of cichlids?