Synodontis numbering

[Hybridfish7]

For smaller species like polli or nigriventris specifically, is it best to just get one, a pair, or a shoal?
Or is it a 0-100 thing where it's either one or a ton of em

 

[twentyleagues]

Some do well in groups others do not. The nigriventris will do better in a group. I've never had a polli that I have known of but they look similar enough to petricolas that it's possible I could have had one at one time. They are supposedly more of a loner, groups will squabble until territories are formed which is like the flavitaeniatus which I have had. The flavs killed each other until I had 1. I had gotten 5 all together 1 was slightly bigger then the others they had plenty of hidding spots but still 1 sought the others out and 1 by 1 the other perished. I've kept petricolas/lucipinnis those all love to be in groups I've got 10 in a group now. Multipunks are another smaller syno I've kept, in groups larger then 7 its good a little squabbling but over all they do well. 5 and under that and you'll end up with a pair or just 1. It really is hit or miss in the group thing. Seriously fish is a good reference for synos as is planet catfish. I have noticed a difference in behavior of fish I have kept in what planet catfish says more often then with seriously fish.
I found 5 synodontis schoutdeni at an lfs I was trying to get them to cut me a deal on but they wouldn't budge. They wanted $40 each. I told them I'd give them $150 for all 5. This was a week before qt went in to effect. Now who knows, it's not an lfs that is close to me so I don't go often. But every time I do go they have something cool.