Synodontis in Planted Tanks?

[Chrisinator]

So, I was at the pet store today and I was browsing through the fish section and saw some Synodontis multipunctatus and eupterus.

I know that the eupterus would be too much for my current setup but I was wondering if any had experience with S. multipunctatus in a planted tank? Do I have room for about 3 of them or do they need more for schooling? They will be going in a 38G with 3 Harlequins, 2 Bolivian Rams, 1 Swordtail, 8 Black Neons and 6 Serpaes.

The pH of my tank is around 7.6 (probabbly higher but my test kit doesn't allow it to measure that high).

Thanks!

EDIT: Would they all be compatible with the above fish?

 

[jasonG75]

Are they TRULY schooling Fish? I have seen them in planted tanks, non Cichlid tanks.
LOL

 

[Chrisinator]

Are they TRULY schooling Fish? I have seen them in planted tanks, non Cichlid tanks.
LOL

That's what I was wondering too.

 

[jasonG75]

In the wild they do school

Synodontis multipunctatus is endemic to Lake Tanganyika. In the wild, this catfish is found in large schools, at depths of 40 meters or more. It seems that they like the diminished light of this depth; however, they are not necessarily nocturnal, even though it may appear this way in your light-flooded tank.

 

[jm1212]

i dont think a 38 is large enough for synos.

 

[blue2fyre]

I would look into a smaller species like syno petricola. I have a group and they are active and very pretty.

 

[Chrisinator]

Would upside down catfish work better?

 

[DrgRcr]

I agree with Jim1212 in that I think a bigger tank would be better. They really should be in group of 5-6 minimum. I have Multipunctatus that can reach 6-7", are super active, and like to zip in and out of the rocks. Petricola only get to 3-4" I believe, but a planted habitat may not be best suited for them anyway.

 

[dundadundun]

my negriventis are doing fine in my planted 50 for what it's worth.

EDIT: however... they never really come out of their little hidey area... not far at least.

 

[sorberj]

I would recommend some cories for a tank that size...a shoal of 5 or 6 would be good. They get very active and can be total clowns in the tank, and the more you put in, the more active they get. There are enough varieites readily available now that you can get some pretty nice patterns and mine love zooming up out of the plants for gulps of air. I'm personally a fan of the laser and peppered cories.