Synodontis nigriventris

Back floating Congo Catfish ( Synodontis nigriventris )

The back Floating Congo Catfish ( Synodontis nigriventris ) belongs to the family of Catfishes ( Mochokidae ). He lives in plant- rich banks of rivers and swamps of the Congo rainforest.

Features

The back Floating Congo Catfish corresponds in its habit the other species of the genus Synodontis. The males are up to 9.6 cm long, females are plumper especially when spawning maturity. The fish is laterally flattened and high backs, he has like other catfish no scales. On foot he wears three pairs of barbels, of which two of the lower jaw are pinnate. The latter are typical of the entire class and have earned it the name Catfishes. Specific type is the small distance between the eyes and the dark to black abdomen, which earned this type also the scientific name nigriventris ( = " schwarzbäuchig "). The rest of the body coloration is light gray to cream-colored with clear, dark brown to black spots that can stand together in bands.

The fins of the fish are covered in the basic color and colorless with black polka dots. The dorsal fin ( dorsal ) and the pectoral fin ( pectoral ) each have a strong and trained as a mandrel hard radiation. The spine of the dorsal fin is smooth and imperforated with this type, unlike other species of the genus, at the front, followed by seven soft rays, the anal fin ( anal ) consists of four undivided and divided between four and seven soft rays. The big, long dorsal fin is striking.

Distribution and habitat

The back Floating Congo catfish is common throughout the river system of the Congo Basin. The tropical waters are rich in texture and shaded and have a temperature around 25 ° C at a pH of 6.0 to 7.0.

Way of life

His common name owes this kind of habit, mostly to go with the belly up. The pigmentation is adapted to this behavior and the ventral side is darker than the back. This allows them to be more difficult discovered against the water surface from potential predators such as birds, larger fish and mammals against the bottom of the water, respectively. In addition to the species S. nigriventris exerted by the backstroke excessive, also some other species are known in the genus Synodontis, the occasional swim in the supine position, such as Synodontis eupterus. Similarly, young fish of the species S. batensoda the backstroke known and also in the Asian catfish sting (Family Bagridae ) are available with Heterobagrus leucophasis a backstroke swimmer.

Food

The food of the spinal Floating Congo catfish consists of small crustaceans and plant material. However, the Congo catfish also take falling from the bank vegetation into the water like insects as a food. Food intake is also carried back floating in the rule. The fish swim in accordance with either just below the water surface or graze the algae growth on the undersides of leaves of aquatic plants, food intake from the ground is rare, but also possible.

Reproduction and Development

Eggs are laid on specially protected, dark areas of the water, where up to 450 eggs are glued to the substrate. After about a week the fry hatch, the yolk sac lose the fry after about four days. The first few weeks they still swim in the usual situation for most catfish, and only after about seven weeks, they go about in the species-typical supine position.

Hunting and

The back Floating Congo Catfish is a commonly held in aquarium fish that is of particular interest because of its unusual for catfish swimming behavior for aquarists. As a rule, it is described as undemanding and easy to keep type, which can also be grown in aquariums. It is, however, described that breds are rare and usually done by accident. Other sources indicate the back Floating Congo catfish as susceptible to poor water conditions and for the white spot disease. According to the Heidelberg decisions of the Central Association of German Pet Trade & Industry Association ( ZZF ) an attitude of kind is not recommended and it is run like all the species on the Red List.