AquaticRepublic.com - Microsynodontis batesii (Mochokidae) All Fishes

All Fishes Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Microsynodontis batesii** Boulenger, 1903
Common Names	African Bumblebee Catfish Humlebiskægmalle (Denmark), Nyong Syno, Zwerg-Synodontis (Germany)
Type Locality	Mvile River, southern Cameroon.
Pronunciation	mike row sin oh don tiss
Etymology	Microsynodontis: From the Greek mikros, meaning small, and synodontis; in reference to the small size of members of this genus. Named after a Mr. G. L. Bates, who collected the fish for Boulenger.
Species Information
Size	100mm or 3.9" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	The genus Microsynodontis has an interrupted lateral line. The caudal fin is usually rounded or truncate, sometimes with a slight indent. There is a long adipose fin with no fin ray. Three pairs of barbels with the mandibular barbels branched. See Catfish of the Month and Shane's World articles - links below.
Sexing	Males have a more slender genital papilla immediately in front of anus. Mature males have secondary sexual characters including hair-like structures over most of the body and head, and a greatly elongated caudal fin.
Habitat Information
Distribution	Africa: Congo system, Ogowe River in Gabon, Cameroon. African Waters, Nigeria Waters, Niger (click on these areas to find other species found there) African Waters, Congo (click on these areas to find other species found there) African Waters, Gabon Waters, Ogowe, Ivindo (click on these areas to find other species found there) African Waters, Cameroon waters, Southern Cameroon Waters, Ntem (click on these areas to find other species found there) African Waters, Campo (click on these areas to find other species found there) African Waters, Cameroon waters, Lobé (click on these areas to find other species found there) African Waters, Cameroon waters, Nyong (click on these areas to find other species found there) African Waters, Cameroon waters, Sanaga (click on these areas to find other species found there) Login to view the map.
IUCN Red List Category	Data Deficient , range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2009.
pH	6.4 - 7.0
Temperature	24.0-27.0°C or 75.2-80.6°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters	There are reports in some instances of the fish doing better in neutral to slightly hard water (pH 7.0-7.4).
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Will eat a wide variety of prepared and frozen foods. User data.
Furniture	Provide plenty of driftwood and/or rocks as hiding places.
Compatibility	A good catfish for the community/African concept tank, though it is somewhat retiring and may not like tankmates that are too boisterous.
Suggested Tankmates	Good with many small- to mid-sized community fish. Ideal tankmates include riverine Synodontis, congo tetras (Phenacogrammus interruptus), or African barbs such as Barbus callipterus.
Breeding	Not recorded.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1903, v. 1 (pt 1) (art. 3), pp 26, Pl. 4.
Registered Keepers	There is no registered keeper.
Wishlists	Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list. There is no wish to keep this species.
Spotters	Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars! There are 2 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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	Look up M. batesii on PlanetCatfish.com
	Look up M. batesii on Fishbase
	Look up M. batesii on Encyclopedia of Life
	Look up M. batesii on Global Biodiversity Information Facility
	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.13.98.928
Last Update	2025 Jan 02 01:36 (species record created: 2002 Aug 31 00:00)