I'm not sure if my syno is eating

[blue2fyre]

I got 3 small synodontis petricola on Saturday. They are in my 55 gallon mbuna tank. I've barely seen them at all since I got them and I'm not sure if I even still have all three. I'm also not sure if they are eating. They hide constantly. I'm not sure if they are nocturnal or not but about an hour after the lights go out I drop some pellets in the back where they hide. Any advice on these guys? I've never owned a catfish before so I really don't know what to expect.
I have a couple very aggressive mbuna that will be rehomed this week sometime. Perhaps my synos will be less shy then?

[DrNo]

I have a very similar situation currently with the 2 lucipinnis (aka dwarf petricola) in my Tang tank. I don't any significant aggression in my tank to speak of, but they still hide during th day. I see their activity at night, but they still refuse to be seen in the open. I believe their behavior is #'s dependent. I'm strongly considering more specimens to being the count up to at least 4 as higher counts seem to make them feel more secure. I'm following this thread so keep us updated.

[toddnbecka]

I have 9 or 10 in a 55 (along with juvie cichlids, 3 Tang's and a group of 8 Vic's) that are all over the tank at feeding time. Only having 3 makes a very small school, you'd want at least twice that many in order to see them occaisonally.

[blue2fyre]

2, possibly 3 came out today during dinner. I can't tell them apart but two were out at the same time from time to time. I guess they are eating, I can't really tell because of the way their mouth is lol. But they came out at least which gives me a big sigh of relief.