Synodontis acanthomias

Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Occurs in different biotopes around a number of areas in the middle of the Democratic Republic of Congo and all over Cameroon.

120 ∗ 60 ∗ 60 cm48 ∗ 24 ∗ 24 in - ~432 litres~114 US gal.

A dimly lit aquarium with a soft substrate and rocks, pieces of driftwood and twisted roots arranged to form hiding places suits this species. Floating vegetation is also recommended in order to diffuse the light entering the tank. Other planting is beneficial but not essential.

Temperature: 22 – 24 °C72 – 75 °F

pH: 6.5-8.0

Hardness: 5-25°H

S. acanthomias is a particularly voracious feeder but is generally unfussy. Frozen, live and dried foods are all accepted. It also relishes vegetable matter in the form of shelled peas, cucumber etc., which it will rasp at with the teeth in its lower jaw.

This is a very robust species and should be kept only with tankmates that can stand their own ground such as large Central American and African cichlids, large characins and barbs and Loricariids. It is particularly pugnacious to conspecifics and other members of the same genus. We recommend it is the last fish to be introduced to a community in order to minimise the risk of aggression.

The female is plumper than the male when adult. It can also be sexed by examining the genital papillae. This is not for the amateur however. The fish should be held ventral side up in the palm of your hand and the dorsal fin taken between your middle and ring fingers in order to avoid being pierced by the sharp dorsal fin rays. The genital area you are looking for is concealed beneath the pelvic fins. This can be exposed by pulling (gently) on the caudal fin. A male fish will exhibit an extended papillae which should be pointed and ridged. The spermatoduct can be seen on the caudal side. Females also have a clearly visible papillae but this is more rounded and the oviduct is on the opposite side to the male's spermatoduct.

Most species of medium/large Synodontis can be sexed using this method but it should be noted that most species take 2 years or more to reach sexual maturity.

Not recorded in aquaria.

This is one of the species of Synodontis seen less frequently in the trade and it ranks alongside S. schall as one of the more aggressive members of the genus. It is very hardy however and makes a good tankmate for large aggressive cichlid species.

One unique characteristic of S. acanthomias is that the humeral process (the bony extension just above the pectoral fins) is long and tapered with a curved end.