Who else has rare Malawi catfish?

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

Seems like they're very very rare in the aquarium trade.
Mine wasn't even purchased with the intention of buying a Malawi catfish, I thought it was a featherfin catfish at the time. It wasn't even part of a shipment of Malawi catfish either, someone traded it in and it was in an otherwise empty tank with no price tag.
Before or since then (it's been 3 years), I haven't seen any at the Big Al's I bought it, and when asked they said they didn't know what the species was.
So I'm wondering who else has them and how rare they are in your area.

 

[fishhead0103666]

Picture?

 

[Rocksor]

So are you talking about Synodontis njassae or Amphilius chalei?

 

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

Picture?

I'll get one later today as soon as I get the chance.

So are you talking about Synodontis njassae or Amphilius chalei?

Synodontis njassae.

 

[Rtc/tsn]

So are you talking about Synodontis njassae or Amphilius chalei?

Believe he’s talking about njassae since he said he bought it as a featherfin

 

[Rocksor]

I'll get one later today as soon as I get the chance.

Synodontis njassae.

They are seasonal. I've seen them from the wetspottropical fish every year.

 

[_Wolf]

I'll get one later today as soon as I get the chance.

Synodontis njassae.

I may have also accidently purchase this one too, but my has only eye. I'll send a picture later.

 

[DrownedFishonFire]

 

[RD.]

Before or since then (it's been 3 years), I haven't seen any at the Big Al's I bought it, and when asked they said they didn't know what the species was.

Not to rain on your parade, but I have seen cats listed as these in the past, for sale at Big Al's near where I live (in Canada) at about the same time as you purchased yours. (2018) They were 100% hybrids. It's actually quite common to find hybrid synos here in North America, they are bred and exported out of the Czech Republic by the bazillions. The BA's I saw them at had them listed incorrectly (listed as Synodontis njassae ), and when I requested more info from the employee all he could tell me was that they came from their farm in Florida. lol

 

[RD.]

BTW - this is one of the largest tropical fish wholesale distributors in North America, based in Florida, and they list a number of their syno hybrids.
Hybrid synos have become so popular and common place over this past decade that some suppliers don't even hide the fact. Including hybrid crosses of S. njassae. See link below.

Catfish - Synodontis - SegrestFarms Small Animal Wholesale and Saltwater Fish Wholesale - Segrest Farms

No matter what your cat looks like, without provenance back to the wild there will be no way to determine its genetic make up.

To add to that, In Canada, I have seen hybrid synos incorrectly labelled at Big Al's, including S. njassae, so that really doesn't help add any credibility to this being one of the more uncommon cats found in the Rift Lakes. One of the PlanetCatfish experts is a personal friend of mine (syno321), and he confirmed my suspicions when I saw the tank of mislabeled synos at the Edmonton BA's a few years ago. Right around the same time that you discovered yours. Paul lives in Edmonton, and has been breeding synos, and supplying retail stores here in AB for many years. Probably a few decades now. He has also seen many hybrids for sale over the years.