Care
A hybrid created to combine the good looks of one Tanganyikan parent (often S. multipunctatus) with the prolific egg count of a West African riverine species (often S. eupterus), these catfish inherit a very adaptable constitution and are at home in a wide range of water parameters.
You may see this fish labelled erroneously as one of the Tanganyikan parent species thanks to misidentification by suppliers. These fish are robust and capable of thriving alongside tankmates such as moderately aggressive cichlids, providing there are opportunities to hide from their attentions when needed. They'll also thrive alongside larger community fishes such as medium-sized barbs, characins and adult rainbowfish. In a quieter tank, these fish will show a great deal of character. Like most Synodontis, these fish appreciate company of their own kind but will squabble over the best hiding places, or access to food. They also have all the character and charisma of their relatives and make good pets that quickly learn where the food comes from.
Often labelled as their parent species, these fishes also have a few trade names such as Zebrinus, Pardalis, Ornatipinnis and Valentine. Some of these apply to rarely imported true species but these are usually African in origin and staff should be able to tell you if that's the case. As hybrids are produced in large numbers, their price is often a good guide.
Feeding
Omnivorous. Offer a quality staple sinking catfish food such as pellets/tablets/granules as well as a variety of meaty frozen foods such as bloodworm, white mosquito larvae, vitamin-enriched brineshrimp, Mysis shrimp etc. along with occasional algae wafers. These are greedy fish, so take care not to overfeed.
Breeding
Home breeding of most Synodontis is rarely accomplished, although the Tanganyikan parent species such as multipunctatus are regularly bred when housed alongside mouthbrooding cichlids. It may be that these hybrids are sterile and spawning in home aquarium settings is unlikely.
