Synodontis Petricola and aggressive mbuna?

[Allan01230]

Just wondering how are my 3 synodontis petricola all at 4 inches able to live with agressive mbuna? I have kenyi zebras and pseudotropheous elongotis in with them in a 90 and the cichlids will mess with everything but the petricola. The petricola chase each other but leave everything else be. the aggressive mbuna ignore the synodontis Why is this? Thanks all in advance

 

[ecoli73]

Synodontus catfish are not without weapons. Cichlids know this; but yes, I recommend synos with African setups.


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[Allan01230]

what do you mean "weapons"?

 

[duanes]

Petricola may not be seen a competitors by the mbuna.
I have kept them with many cichlids, old world and new, and they seem to be ignored by all.

 

[poppalina]

They only fish that I have that would mess with the Petricola are my Tropheus.

 

[ecoli73]

what do you mean "weapons"?

Spines


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[luvinbluegills]

They have hard, sharp spines in their pectoral fins which they can use quite handily to defend themselves. Also, they aren't seen as competitors by the cichlids, and since most of the African lake cichlids (all?) are mouthbrooders, there's no need to chase all living things from a given territory.

 

[Rome]

I keep them in my mixed African tank and the fish ignore them.

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[djm5222]

The synos will stake their claim just like the african cichlids. I've seen a little bit of competition when they are both offered hiding places. My synos always won that competition though with zero damage to both fish in the end.