View Full Version : Scavengers for African Cichlids
tanker
11-27-2003, 2:51 AM
What would be a good scavenger for an African Cichlid tank. I do not like plecos, so how about a few synodontis?? How many is Ok in a 40-50 gal tank??
benedick
11-27-2003, 3:21 AM
Synodontis eupterus is a good choice.
tanker
11-27-2003, 2:26 PM
Are all synodontis good?? Do they fight?? Can I have more than one kind??
valerie
11-27-2003, 7:30 PM
Syno. eupterus is not a good choice for a 40-50g tank as they can get 8-9". A better choice for an african tnak would be a couple syno. multipunctatus or syno.petricola as they come from the rift lakes and can take the higher ph. PLus they are smaller, only getting about 4-6". But you have to get at least 3 of the same species for them to be happy.
paradigmcubed
11-27-2003, 10:11 PM
I don't know what you mean by "good." My synodontis catfish are very peaceful and they clean up all the food my Africans miss. They aren't out a lot during the day, they usually come out at night.
valerie
11-28-2003, 1:16 AM
Synos are pretty shy but if you get a group of them they are more likely to come out.
if they are smaller cichlids i think you could also try synodontis nigriventis.... upside down cats. they school but are smaller, only around 3 or 4 inches full grown i think.
tanker
11-29-2003, 2:43 AM
Leaning towards 50 gal. maybe 3 red zebras and 3 kennii and 3 synodontis.
http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/mochokid/synodont/334_f.htm
fascinating little fish, good hiders. they should be good with the ph if acclimated slowly. i used to keep a few and they even survived breeding cons and the mbuna i used to keep.
edit: breeding jewels too, hemichromis bimaculatus......
JSchmidt
11-29-2003, 11:28 PM
I agree for the most part with Valerie; I think a Syn. eupterus is pushing it in a 50. For the cichlids you note, a quartet (+/- 2) of Syn. petricola would be ideal. Kept in groups, they're as active as any synodontis and very comical. I've got both eupteruses and petricola and I'd pick the petricolas hands down for a tank like you describe.
Syn. multipunctatus are OK, too. They look a lot like petricola, except a bit bigger. They aren't as active as petricola, IME.
Have fun!
Jim
tanker
11-30-2003, 4:09 AM
Thx all.
Leaning towards 2-3 Syno. Petricola.
JSchmidt
11-30-2003, 12:07 PM
Be sure to get at least 3. They do much better in groups. When kept in smaller numbers, they become as reclusive as most synos.
Have fun!
Jim