new cat Synodontis for ID please

[Red Devil]

I heard from an expert regarding the Synodonis Ocellifer and this is what he had to say after looking at his pictures.. This S.Ocellifer has tell tale signs. of being a pure species....extended upper and lower caudel fin rays..prominent operculler spike, thick mandibullar barbels, size and position of eyes and a large two spot adipose among other things tells us that this is a pure S.Ocellifer. Hybrid in this family is really quite rare ..and to my knowledge purely by chance and not a forced event. There are too many analomical points which indicate s.Ocellifer..if this were a hybrid there would be far more charecterestics belonging to another species. so that is what he had to say.. which you will probably understand this better then me.. since you are so familiar with various parts etc.

 

[COL]

Is this fellow insinuating that hybrids within the mochokid family are rare and achieved only through chance? If that were the case, why are there so many hybrids which use species otherwise never-before bred in the home aquarium? I think that's evidence enough of hormone induced spawning. And what about those multitude of hybrid animals that are exported out of Eastern Europe specifically bred in large numbers for their attractive, ableit un-natural patterns, passed off as other species or under their own undescribed trade names (serpentis comes to mind)?

He definitely has a good point about the possible errant synodontid characteristics of other species--there is very little indication of another animal being mixed in with this fish (mainly the unmarked dorsal), although the opercular spine seems a bit smaller than what I've seen from ocellifer. Perhaps it's just a interspecial anomaly, marking wise.

 

[Red Devil]

Is this fellow insinuating that hybrids within the mochokid family are rare and achieved only through chance? If that were the case, why are there so many hybrids which use species otherwise never-before bred in the home aquarium? I think that's evidence enough of hormone induced spawning. And what about those multitude of hybrid animals that are exported out of Eastern Europe specifically bred in large numbers for their attractive, ableit un-natural patterns, passed off as other species or under their own undescribed trade names (serpentis comes to mind)?

He definitely has a good point about the possible errant synodontid characteristics of other species--there is very little indication of another animal being mixed in with this fish (mainly the unmarked dorsal), although the opercular spine seems a bit smaller than what I've seen from ocellifer. Perhaps it's just a interspecial anomaly, marking wise.

Well I just wanted you to know what i had heard.. it really does not matter all that much what he is because he is going to be with me anyway.. as he has been..but it is certainly important to learn about all the species and know what is true and what is not.. I will be posting those other guys and maybe you will be kind enough to help me with their ID..thanks Liz

 

[COL]

Well, whatever he is, he looks fat, healthy, and well cared for, and, when it comes down to it, that's what matters, right?

 

[Red Devil]

Thank you..you are absolutely right!!!