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Scientific Name Synodontis granulosus  Boulenger, 1900
Common Names White Seam Syno
Deep Lake Syno, Granny, Hvidsømmet Skægmalle (Denmark), Leuchtbaken-Fiederbartwels (Germany)
Type Locality Northern end of Lake Tanganyika.
Synonym(s) Synodontis granulosa
Pronunciation sin oh don tiss - gran you LOW suss
Etymology According to Cuvier, Synodontis is an "ancient name for an undetermined fish from the Nile". It is apparently not derived, as often reported, from syn-, together and odous, tooth, presumed etymology of the lizardfish genus Synodus and in reference to the closely-spaced lower jaw teeth of both genera. 
Hop to next section Species Information
Size 270mm or 10.6" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification All species in the genus Synodontis have a hardened head cap that has attached a process (humeral process) which is situated behind the gill opening and pointed towards the posterior. The dorsal fin and pectoral fins have a hardened first ray which is serrated. Caudal fin is always forked. There is one pair of maxillary barbels, sometimes having membranes and occasionally branched. The two pairs of mandibular barbels are often branched and can have nodes attached. The cone-shaped teeth in the upper jaw are short. S-shaped and movable in the lower jaw. These fish produce audible sounds when disturbed rubbing the base of the pectoral spine against the pectoral girdle.

At least 1/3 to 1/2 of all fins have a snow white edging. Long white barbles. Inky sheen to brownish body which bears a spotted pattern in younger fish. The contrast of this spotting diminishes with age.
Sexing Both sexes have identical colouration. Females grow slightly larger and tend to be plumper than males. Males have a 4-5 mm genital papilla near the anus.
Hop to next section Habitat Information
Distribution Africa: Lake Tanganyika.
African Waters, Western Rift Valley Lakes, Tanganyika (click on these areas to find other species found there)

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IUCN Red List Category Least Concern, range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2006.
pH 7.8 - 8.4
Temperature 24.0-28.0°C or 75.2-82.4°F (Show species within this range)
Hop to next section Husbandry Information
Feeding Voracious eater that will accept virtually all aquarium food, but prefers meaty foods such as shrimp and clam. Apparently feeds on small molluscs in the wild. User data.
Furniture A network of caves formed by piling up rocks, with ample swimming space above. Vallisneria and / or hornwort is optional.
Compatibility Best kept in a tank of 125 gallons (500 liters) or more. May become reclusive and aggressive in tanks smaller than 70 gallons (250 liters). May jump out of tank in first few days after initial introduction.
Suggested Tankmates Tanganyikan Synodontis, robust Tanganyikan cichlids and Tanganyika eels.
Breeding Breeding has been reported by a UK based wholesaler, but no details have been made available. Has also been bred by hormone injection in Eastern Europe.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Hop to next section Further Information
Reference Annals and Magazine of Natural History (Series 7) v. 6 (no. 35), pp 480.
Registered Keepers There is no registered keeper.
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There are 6 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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Last Update 2020 Sep 19 01:40 (species record created: 2001 Apr 21 00:00)