Synodontis congica Poll,
1971
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have decided this month to return to the African
Continent and to concentrate my thoughts on a member of the Synodontis
genus which has been misidentified on a number of occasions in your
local fish store. The catfish in question is the "Congo Synodontis",
Synodontis congica and its similarity to another species
from the same area, Synodontis notata.
To start of with, the number of spots on the
two species of congica and notata does not warrant
any attention as they do vary with my 4 species of S. congica
showing 4 spots and 3 spots. The main criteria for the
2 species is the length of their maxillary barbels (pertaining to
the upper jaw). S. congica has short maxillary
barbels reaching back to just after the insertion of the pectoral
fin whereas S. notata has them longer, reaching to nearly
the end of the pectoral fins, which can be seen in the accompanying
line drawings. S.
congica has also a shorter snout.
Another very important feature is the adipse
fin, S. notata being very small and S. congica
being the larger of the two. S. congica tends also to have
a larger eye much as in the vain of S. pleurops but
not as large.
Another look-alike species that I havent mentioned
and is a bit rarer in the hobby is Synodontis nummifer
which has short barbels like S. congica but has a spotted
head and pigment in the caudal fin. The thing about all three of
these species is that their humeral process (Bony extension of the
pectoral girdle) are quite alike in that they are all blunt with
S. congica being a little bit shorter and the head shield
being heavier, but this is not a good way to identify these 3 species
in that you may be looking at juveniles and this method may not
be fool proof.
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Synodontis
congica
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Synodontis
notata
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(Drawings
from) Poll, Max; Revision
Des Synodontis Africains (Famille Mochokidae) 1971.
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Keeping Synodontis congica is not
too much of a problem. They do like, as most Synodontis,
to be territorial but not as bad as S. notata which can
be a bit disruptive when they get to adult size. They will get
on fine with each other if they are introduced as juveniles or
young adults. They will have a few skirmishes, but nothing too
drastic.
They do tend to be quite shy but they will
venture out for food during the day and dart back into their hiding
places with their catch. As you have noted they are much happier
kept in a tank when they have choices of shelter during the day,
whether it is pipework, branches/bogwood or stonework/slates.
Synodontis congicus
was the original name for many years, but the gender of the generic
name has been declared feminine, so the name goes back to the
original of congica.
Dorsal 1/7 with a short
filament. Adipose fin base 1/7. Short maxillary barbels
reaching back to just after the insertion of the pectoral fin. Large
eye. Short and rounded humeral process.
Light grey to silver with
one to four black spots along midlateral line of body.
Best suited to the larger aquarium. A quite
well behaved Synodontis if given the room to grow and will
not molest tankmates if they are not too small.
No reports on the breeding of this species.
Will eat a variety of foods and as in most
members of this genus they are not a problem to feed. Tablet and
pellet foods with a good quality flake and frozen bloodworms.
| Etymology |
Synodontis:
Syn = together; odontis = teeth.(fused
tooth plates).
congica : From the Congo.
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| References |
Sands, David.
Catfishes of the World, Vol 2 Mochokidae.
Poll, Max; Revision Des Synodontis Africains (Famille Mochokidae)
1971.
©
Allan James @
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Democratic Rep.of the Congo.
Congo basin (except Lower Congo, central basin, Luapula-Moero
and High Katanga). 
