Description

Synodontis lucipinnis is known only from Musende Rocks, Zambian Lake Tanganyika. The aquarium should be spacious with a soft sandy substrate in order to protect the sensory barbels. It should be decorated with a good amount of rocky caves/PVC tubes, some driftwood, and robust planting (that can cope with hard, alkaline conditions) to provide shady areas, but you should also ensure that a roomy swimming space is left along the front of the tank. Efficient filtration is recommended, as these fish are voracious eaters and can produce a fair amount of waste. The water should be well-oxygenated with a moderate current, and frequent partial water changes are a must to help keep nitrate to a minimum. A gregarious species, S. lucipinnis should be kept in groups of 5 or more. Juveniles have often been observed providing cleaning services to larger fish. Companions should be relatively peaceful and larger than 3cm (1.2") in length (otherwise they may be predated upon); they do well as part of a Tanganyikan community of medium-sized fish. S. lucipinnis is very similar in appearance to S. petricola, but the latter grows to a larger adult size and has a pattern of smaller spots.