SYNODONTIS ANGELICUS
Text by David Marshall

In aquaria photographs by Kevin Webb

On show bench photographs by Arthur Kenworthy

Field researchers and collectors alike report that Synodontis angelicus are never abundant over their natural range, which was once believed to be restricted to the Malebo (Stanley) Pool area of Zaire but it is now thought to stretch into areas of Cameroon, the Congo Republic and the Congo Democratic Republic.
These fish are found in stagnant and slow-flowing riverine habitats, which are often rich in mulm and darkened by rotting terrestrial vegetation, where they sift through the substrate looking for aquatic worms, insect larvae, fishes small enough to be swallowed and soft vegetable matter. For reasons not yet understood Synodontis are drawn towards iron, with angelicus the most willing species, so collectors strategically place tin cans, which are used to trap Synodontis for the table throughout Western and Congo areas of Africa, into the water and I am told it is by these means that most of the angelicus seen in our hobby still originate.
Perhaps this accounts for their often-high price in aquarium retail outlets? Malcolm (Short) tells me that, in the late 1970's, he well remembers seeing his first angelicus, for sale in a London retail outlet that carried a price tag of £200.00p. Although this price is much reduced 30 years on it still pays to shop around.

As our photographs show the body colour varies, from one population to another, and this has formed the basis for a number of common names to arise for Synodontis angelicus that include angel catfish, black clown catfish, pearl catfish/squeaker, polka-dot catfish and white spotted squeaker
In young fish the background body colour tends to be a black-red mix. As the fish mature the red fades thus leaving the body with a black mat finish. As old age approaches the background body colour has faded (mainly in females) to a light grey. Such is the variance in foreground markings, at all ages, that these can be seen as either randomly placed white or yellow spots, white bars (hence the synonym scientific name of Synodontis zonatus), mix of spots and bars or just as a single row of white spots which run along the lateral line.
As with all Synodontis our angelicus have the protection of well formed, and sharp, pectoral fins that, in combination with the upper body, form a rigid crossbar when required. This is supplemented by a continuous bony shield that runs from behind the eye to the dorsal fin spine and camouflage that suits their natural environment.
An adult Synodontis angelicus can attain a body length of 10". As they tend to grow slowly angelicus are fairly long lived with several Public Aquaria able to boast of maintaining such fish in their aquaria for well over 20 years.
The minimum sized home aquarium for keeping angelicus is one of 48"x12"x12". Although they are comfortable in both Rift Valley and slightly brackish aquaria they do best when kept at a pH of 7 in an aquarium decorated with bogwood, large aquarium plants (real or plastic) and ceramic plant pots, which they will often defend, as refuges. Use small sized gravel or sand as a substrate. These fish love a high temperature so we aim for the 78 F mark. Try to guard any heater-thermostats as angelicus are easily burned. A good filtration and airflow system is a must.
As with Akysis and Clarias some angelicus will gorge upon their favourite 'snacks' of commercially produced aquarium foods, Thai crabstick and pieces of prawn until their bodies become very obese. If this happens a couple of days of fasting is often the answer.
Although Chester Zoo have a small group of angelicus living together, and in the company of various Mormyrids, I, through experience, recommend keeping them as a single specimen as although they will tolerate the company of their own kind this can lead to a situation in which a dominant fish will continually harass its fellow angelicus into submission which, in turn, leads to the forming of a strict pecking order.
As companions avoid any fish that a mature angelicus could easily swallow. The more aggressive their companions the more their first strike instinct comes into play thus leading to aggression been dished out by the angelicus, usually in defence of a territory, and this is a good reason to avoid their housing in a Rift Valley community (where they will also spend much time in hiding to avoid such contact with hard natured cichlids). The angelicus in my care enjoys the company of loricarins and Asian Parrot Cichlids. If you are prepared to put up with feuding and territorial disputes then other large growing Synodontis species will live alongside angelicus and a 'mostly Synodontis' aquarium can cause more interest than you may first imagine - but pick the species carefully.
Angelicus are known to spawn in pairs, with the genital area of the male having a more pointed appearance (see the excellent photographs by Gal Fish of Synodontis multipunctatus on the North East Aquatics website, found through Ryedale A.S. website links), as opposed to groups. A mature female can release as many as 4,000 eggs. These eggs are said to be darkly coloured and stick to aquatic vegetation. Reports from field researchers tell us that angelicus time their spawning for the onset of the rainy season when river channels flood out onto grasslands. The hatchling fry feed upon insect larvae in the hope of surviving the first five months of life so that when the floodwater recedes they are at a size to cope with life back in the main river channels.
I do not know of any aquarium spawnings of angelicus but Eastern European fish breeders had limited success through manipulating hormone stimulated 'couples' that were placed into bare aquaria. A couple of years ago a German-based Professor (who had bred several riverine Synodontis species) got in touch, via e-mail, and told me that he was close to spawning a mature group of angelicus in his care and although I sent my thoughts and comments on how this may be achieved the Professor, sadly, failed to carry on our correspondence.