Not so Angelic(us)
Text by David Marshall, Editor, The Aquarium Gazette , Images as attributed

Background  We begin our article with a look at two species of Synodontis that are very popular in the aquarium hobby. 
Synodontis angelicus image by K.A. Webb
The Polka-dot catfish occurs naturally in the Malebo (Stanley) Pool area of Zaire. Colour varies with populations from those that have dull grey bodies speckled with white spots through to those whose bodies are a brilliant jet black and adorned with spots of the brightest yellow. Although the majority of textbooks still give 20cm (8”) as the maximum size attained by these fish, specimens greatly in advance of this size are known. These fish are lively and boisterous in temperament. 
Synodontis schoutedeni  image by Arthur Kenworthy 
The Marbled catfish originates from the surroundings of the Cameroon stretch of the Congo River. There is much variability in the colour pattern between individuals. Generally the pattern can be described as being of a brown or black background with waves of yellow or white in the foreground. This fish also attains a size of 20cm - but often less in aquaria. 

Synodontis angelicus x shoutendi image by Arthur Frisby
During the autumn of 2006 a local aquatic retailer, who knows of my passion for ‘all things Synodontis’ told me that he had ordered a Synodontis angelicus, through a Czech Republic aquarium fish consolidator, for a fellow ‘good customer’. The ‘angelicus’ arrived with a note informing the retailer that the available fish was actually a cross between angelicus and schoutedeni. The retailer had hoped to keep this fish long enough for me to see but the person who ordered it accepted delivery straightaway, been highly satisfied with this beautiful hybrid. A few weeks later, and at a different outlet, my eyes were drawn to a label that proclaimed ‘Synodontis species’. When the beautiful little fish emerged from its favourite tube I realised that it was something different and the patterning of the fins (clearly angelicus) and foreground white waves on the body (clearly schoutedeni) gave away the hybrid identity. The assistant quickly had it caught and ‘bagged’ for me. On arriving home the angelicus hybrid, as I refer to it, was placed into a 60x30x30cm aquarium with a Synodontis petricola x nigrita hybrid, small Mystus gulio, several young Ancistrus and 2 male and 5 female Dutch Pearl Mouthbrooders (themselves a hybrid species of Oreochromis) from my 4th generation of these lovely fish. As the photographs show the body of my angelicus hybrid has a typical young angelicus shape with fins to match. The foreground shows no spotting but has a lovely bright white (sometimes taking on a golden hue) schoutedeni pattern.

Synodontis petricola x nigrita hybrid image by Arthur Kenworthy
I have no idea as to exactly what the young angelicus hybrid was fed with in Eastern Europe but with me it would only eat vegetable-based flaked foods (as can be the case with both wild caught and aquarium bred Synodontis decorus). Today this little beauty takes all types of flaked foods, granular foods, catfish pellets and small pieces of both prawn and Thai crabstick.  Growth has been on par with a young schoutedeni. In behaviour ‘his’ actions are less boisterous than angelicus and he hides away much less than can be expected from schoutedeni. Now in a 90x30x30cm aquarium, and in more mixed company than when ‘he’ first arrived, he is not a complete model of good behaviour but is more placid than many of the Synodontis hybrids of Eastern European origin.