Polys & Synos?

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jeffthefish

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Aug 8, 2006
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Seattle, WA
www.jeffthefish.com
Does anyone have experience keeping polys with synodontis cats who could recommend some species to me? My tank is only 100 gallons, so it would have to be a species that doesn't get bigger than a foot.

Also, I've got an endli and an ornate who've been known to dine on fish much smaller than them.
 
I have kept Synos with Bichirs all the time, they get along great. Havent had any bad experiences yet and its been a loooong time. just make sure they aren't too too small.
 
Mine get along fine.....but eventually I think the Syno will have to move, as he's near his max & the Ornate isn't even close to his...
 
Had a syno eupterus that would harass my bichirs. Even caused some scale damage to one of them. Eventually had to put him in a different tank.
 
Had a friend who wanted a scavenger with his polys and I suggested a lace cat. It wan only in the tank one day before he heard this croaking coming from the tank that night. He turned on the light to see his big ornate gripping the syno by its stomach and swimming around the tank. He could not catch the fish (big, deep tank with lots of hiding places) and the next day found the cat with its guts torn out. It was a decent sized fish, about 1/3 the size of his polys and too big to swallow, but for some reason they took a dislike to it. I think the only scavengers in his tank are some really big clown loaches and some Ancistrus. BTW, his polys also killed several Leporinus that made the mistake of bothering the polys by fin-nipping them.

Also I see you have some congo tetras in your tank. They max out at around 4", so you will have to relocate them at some point. If you want other African fish, try and African Knife, they are nocturnal but quickly aclimate in many cases to a diurnal feeding schedual and they are unlikely to be dined upon by the polys since they have 'sonar' capabilities and would be hard to sneak up on. Plus they're pretty neat!
 
i have had my syno e. with my bichirs for about 3 years. there has been some territorial issues now and then but no damage has ever been done. i havent seen that happen since i put them in the bigger tank 5 months ago.

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yeah I have the same type of syno and he is in with 7 Bichirs and they all get along great
 
I think that will work fine, it will probably look nice to.
 
I got a synodontis nigriventis with my p. senegalus. be sure the syno have a cave or something to hide in. And they would probably come out more if you have a group of them.
 
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