Syno Eupterus - Featherfin Cat

[San O Fisher]

So I got this cool featherfin a while ago and the pet shop said he would be fine for my 15 gallon, but people here pointed out not so much...i bought him at 1.5, and he is now 3 inches. needless to say, he is getting his new home...4X2X2. I was wondering if the Syno eupterus did better by himself or w/ a group. I have heard different stories, but i want to make sure he is happy since i know he is unhappy fighting for space w/ my golden nugget pleco, who has also started to grow a bit. The new tank is on the floor and I am waiting for the stand to be shipped. he will be in the tank w/ 3 plecs- all will be under 6-7 inches. 2nd question...could i add a pair of pictus cats to the mix? some say yes and others say no. in advance, there will be lots of hiding spaces towards the rear of the tank and wide open spaces up front!

thanks,

 

[invader]

Hiding places or no hiding places these guys do not like each other. They are highly territorial and will even kill other euptrous that threaten its hole. i saw a tank that had three in it at one point until the dominant one killed one of the weaker ones. It first started off with chasing and some bites, but then he killed it. I used to keep one in a 120 gallon all by himself and he seemed to be just fine. he'll probably be fine with the other fish, especially the plecos, just not other synondontis.

 

[San O Fisher]

Hiding places or no hiding places these guys do not like each other. They are highly territorial and will even kill other euptrous that threaten its hole. i saw a tank that had three in it at one point until the dominant one killed one of the weaker ones. It first started off with chasing and some bites, but then he killed it. I used to keep one in a 120 gallon all by himself and he seemed to be just fine. he'll probably be fine with the other fish, especially the plecos, just not other synondontis.

that is what i was thinking, but i keep hearing about people who have two of these. do you think he would be fine with the pictus cats?

 

[Davo86]

I have two eupterus and i will be rehoming at least one of them this week, as juveniles they are fine together but once they mature they can get a bit aggressive, mine swim happily together 50% of the time and then chase each other the other 50% of the time,
and I know it will only get worse as they grow, which is why i am rehoming them.

I keep them with 1 Pimelodella gracilis which has a very similar nature to that of the pictus so i think provided they have their own space they should be ok.

 

[darknirvana217]

Yeah I had mine in with some other catfish. If your worried about the pictus, but you should do this regardless of the synondontis, you need to have a small group of pictus maybe three, since they like to school. The school will make them feel secure and bring them out of hiding, so there will be less chance of your pictus and synondontis fighting over a hole. Also, schools deter predators, generally. by the way, I'm Darknirvana217, i was accidentally signed on under my girlfriends account, i was using her computer.

 

[raptorrex]

Hiding places or no hiding places these guys do not like each other. They are highly territorial and will even kill other euptrous that threaten its hole. i saw a tank that had three in it at one point until the dominant one killed one of the weaker ones. It first started off with chasing and some bites, but then he killed it. I used to keep one in a 120 gallon all by himself and he seemed to be just fine. he'll probably be fine with the other fish, especially the plecos, just not other synondontis.

that is what i was thinking, but i keep hearing about people who have two of these. do you think he would be fine with the pictus cats?

mine is on its own, though i do have a USD cat. it gets on fine with all my stock. from cory to angels. they do seem to be like RTBS, fine with everyone except another feather fin synos. mine went from 2 inches to over six in less than six months
form this:

to this:

you get a better idea of the size here next to a nine inch pleco:

 

[San O Fisher]

Hiding places or no hiding places these guys do not like each other. They are highly territorial and will even kill other euptrous that threaten its hole. i saw a tank that had three in it at one point until the dominant one killed one of the weaker ones. It first started off with chasing and some bites, but then he killed it. I used to keep one in a 120 gallon all by himself and he seemed to be just fine. he'll probably be fine with the other fish, especially the plecos, just not other synondontis.

that is what i was thinking, but i keep hearing about people who have two of these. do you think he would be fine with the pictus cats?

mine is on its own, though i do have a USD cat. it gets on fine with all my stock. from cory to angels. they do seem to be like RTBS, fine with everyone except another feather fin synos. mine went from 2 inches to over six in less than six months
form this:

wow, your guy is quit large, that is a great pic. My featherfin is just starting to lose his juvenile patterning so i want to get him into his new home asap. He is pretty dark in color, I will have to get a picture, but he only comes out at night when all teh lights are off unless my pleco invades his space as they swap hiding places every couple of weeks it seems.

 

[raptorrex]

lol i forgot to mention its in with pictus and i have seen no problems

 

[Miss Dib Dabs]

LOL I know this is an old old thread but couldn't say absolutely nothing on seeing it. Not all synos will fight each other. Seriously. I have a large group living together. They have been known to be a bit rough at certain times of the year, occassionally the pecking order changes, although the girls are top of the pile. Most were tiny when I bought them, some were young adults that others had sent back to lfs's and looked scared in tank corners with aggressive large fish. I have had them together for years now and they've moved tanks once (soon to be twice as they are all huge!!). My most recent suprise is the suspicion of breeding!! Until I have proof however.... (I guess the appearance of a youngish syno amongst their number should be proof enough but what do I know.)
The only syno breed I have had to seperate is my angelicus. First introduced to the Eupterus years ago she frightened them all for two days until enough was enough. She took over their old 55g whilst they moved into the 100g, now too small for the group...anyone got a 150g tank going cheap?
In short, never say never, maybe the bigger numbers helped mine sort a hierachy where a pair may well fight I don't know, but it is possible and for the fish to be like a family.
P.

 

[San O Fisher]

LOL I know this is an old old thread but couldn't say absolutely nothing on seeing it. Not all synos will fight each other. Seriously. I have a large group living together. They have been known to be a bit rough at certain times of the year, occassionally the pecking order changes, although the girls are top of the pile. Most were tiny when I bought them, some were young adults that others had sent back to lfs's and looked scared in tank corners with aggressive large fish. I have had them together for years now and they've moved tanks once (soon to be twice as they are all huge!!). My most recent suprise is the suspicion of breeding!! Until I have proof however.... (I guess the appearance of a youngish syno amongst their number should be proof enough but what do I know.)
The only syno breed I have had to seperate is my angelicus. First introduced to the Eupterus years ago she frightened them all for two days until enough was enough. She took over their old 55g whilst they moved into the 100g, now too small for the group...anyone got a 150g tank going cheap?
In short, never say never, maybe the bigger numbers helped mine sort a hierachy where a pair may well fight I don't know, but it is possible and for the fish to be like a family.
P.

I think I made the right decision as my syno does not do well with other bottom dwellers. He did not get along with both plecs I have had in the tank no matter how many hiding places they got, but maybe if you buy them at once when they are small it could be different.

 

[dave_oddballs]

my syno eupterus is about 8+ inch in a tank with 4 pictus cats, 1 asian bumble bee cat, 1 burmese upside down cat with no problems, few arguments now and again but thats mostly between the pictus cats.

David

 

[raptorrex]

So I got this cool featherfin a while ago and the pet shop said he would be fine for my 15 gallon, but people here pointed out not so much...i bought him at 1.5, and he is now 3 inches. needless to say, he is getting his new home...4X2X2. I was wondering if the Syno eupterus did better by himself or w/ a group. I have heard different stories, but i want to make sure he is happy since i know he is unhappy fighting for space w/ my golden nugget pleco, who has also started to grow a bit. The new tank is on the floor and I am waiting for the stand to be shipped. he will be in the tank w/ 3 plecs- all will be under 6-7 inches. 2nd question...could i add a pair of pictus cats to the mix? some say yes and others say no. in advance, there will be lots of hiding spaces towards the rear of the tank and wide open spaces up front!

thanks,

its often said that feather fins need to be in groups. i have two, one mature one juvenile. they chase around, but nothing more. 3-5, if your tank is up to it!

 

[mike os]

I have 4 & they get along fine... just the usual scuffling you get with any larger fish.

 

[raptorrex]

i have to say the synos show no interest in other fish, bottom dwellers or not. they like a good spat between themselves but that's it. a fantastic fish, if you have the room.

 

[mrbudgie]

I have 4 & they get along fine... just the usual scuffling you get with any larger fish.

they got on well in my tank as well lol mikey

take it they are still ok