Synodontis ID: resembles S. ocifeller

[BadGaskets]

Found this guy mislabeled today as a common S.nigriventris and couldn't resist picking him up. About 1.25 to 1.5" Currently housed in an 80g tank.

I'm by NO means well-educated on Synodontis species beyond the common stuff like feather fins, petricola, etc but my best searching tells me this might be S. ocifeller.

 

[Morti]

Can't help with a confirmed Id but thats a nice looking synodontis. We have an ocifeller but it's has far fewer spots and I can't remember what it looked like when the size yours is now, as it was nearly 30 years ago. It has been a model citizen and a really nice species to keep.

 

[BadGaskets]

Can't help with a confirmed Id but thats a nice looking synodontis. We have an ocifeller but it's has far fewer spots and I can't remember what it looked like when the size yours is now, as it was nearly 30 years ago. It has been a model citizen and a really nice species to keep.

You have a 30 year old Syno? Nice!

How big did yours get?

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

Based on this photo from the PCF: https://www.planetcatfish.com/common/image.php?species=synodontis_ocellifer&image_id=4085 you may be correct. I just don't know the age / size of the fish on the PCF. Yours is still tiny and may or may not change heavily as it grows.

Between that photo and your fish everything looks consistent except yours has bigger eyes and shorter-looking snout. The spotting may be variable of course.

If you needed to be sure, I'd recommend posting on the PCF.

 

[Fishman Dave]

Agree with Victor. Looks to have a bigger eye and spotting but that could simply be due to its current size/age. If it’s not ocifeller then there are no other obvious choices so I don’t think you would go far wrong caring for it as though it were.

 

[Morti]

You have a 30 year old Syno? Nice!

How big did yours get?

It's about 8 inches I think and looks identical to the photo labelled "close up of head" on pcf's ocellifer page.

It's not the only old synodontis I have, I also have one thats the same age but an unknown (well unknown to me) species. I think they are just long lived fish because I've only ever owned three and one was rehomed, a eupterus, because it was a jerk.

I also have some clown loaches I bought in 1994 in there and the one that amazes me most is my brothers botia striata that he got in 1997.

 

[tlindsey]

also have some clown loaches I bought in 1994 in there and the one that amazes me most is my brothers botia striata that he got in 1997.

Wow that's awesome.