Synodontis eupterus inhabits the White Nile, the Niger and Chad basins and the Volta River. There it is found over mucky and sandy substrate. Nowadays, however, practically all animals in the trade are captive-bred. A striking feature of this catfish, which can grow up to 25 cm long, is its magnificent dorsal fin with elongated rays, which earned it the German name Schmuckflossen – Fiederbartwels ( = Ornament-Fin Squeaker).
In its natural environment, S. eupterus feeds mainly on insect larvae and algae. In the aquarium, the animals eat almost all types of food such as flake food, tablet food, mosquito larvae, shrimps and much more. A wide range of food is the key to keeping them fit and healthy. They can become quite tame and await the keeper at the front glass some time before feeding. They are long-lived fish that you can enjoy for well over 10 years.
They can be quite quarrelsome with each other at times, at least that’s how it seems. In reality, these very social animals fight out a hierarchy within which the animals even know each other individually (at least in the aquarium). They should always be kept in groups; five individuals are recommended as a minimum. To avoid mutual stress, aquaria for S. eupterus should always contain numerous hiding places.
For our customers: The animals have code 178002 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Photos F. Schäfer, Text K. Diehl
