Featherfin Catfish
Synodontis eupterus
- Care level
- Advanced
- Adult size
- 30 cm
- Minimum tank
- 108 litres
- Temperature
- 22–27 °C
Species profile
Cuckoo Catfish
Synodontis multipunctatus
Common names: Cuckoo Catfish
Recognized speciesCatfish
Adult size
Up to 15 cm
Up to 15 cm
Countries of origin
Good fit for your tank?
Good fit for
- A keeper who has researched this fish and can match its needs
Think carefully if
- You only want to keep one or two, because this fish needs a group of 5 or more
- You keep shrimp you want to protect
A spotted catfish from Lake Tanganyika with a famous trick: it slips its eggs among those of mouthbrooding cichlids, which then raise its young. Keep a group of at least 5 in 108 litres or more.
Appearance and Identification
A spotted catfish from Lake Tanganyika with a famous trick: it slips its eggs among those of mouthbrooding cichlids, which then raise its young. It needs hard, alkaline water and a group.
Check the scientific name when buying, as common names vary between sellers and countries.
Sexes can be hard to tell apart, although females are often rounder.
Tank Requirements
- Suggested filter
- About 430–540 litres an hour
- Suggested heater
- About 100–150 W for this tank
- Minimum tank volume
- 108 litres
- Minimum tank length
- 120 cm
- Minimum group size
- 5
- Recommended group size
- 8
- Activity level
- Low
- Flow preference
- Low to moderate
- Planting preference
- Moderately planted
- Hiding places
- Yes
- Lid recommended
- Yes
- Jumping risk
- Moderate
Provide caves, wood and shade, because many catfish are active mostly at night.
Behaviour and Tankmates
Usually most active at dusk and after dark, and it hides during the day.
Social needs vary, so see the notes for this species.
Can defend a favourite hiding place.
Check adult size before choosing tankmates, because a catfish may eat anything that fits in its mouth at night. It is likely to eat shrimp.
Water Parameters
Keep the pH steady, because this fish is sensitive to swings. Keep the temperature steady.
Parameter caveat
Keep up regular water changes, and acclimatise new fish slowly.
Feeding
- Diet types
- Omnivore
- Feeding frequency
- Daily
- Preferred foods
- Sinking pellets or wafersFeed after lights-out if faster fish take everything first.
- Frozen bloodworm and brine shrimpOffer several times a week.
- Blanched vegetablesCourgette or cucumber add variety for fish that graze.
Feed sinking foods, ideally after lights-out, so that it gets its share.
Feed small amounts, and remove anything left after a few minutes.
Breeding
- Breeding difficulty
- Moderate
- Parental care
- Unknown
Known as a brood parasite. The eggs are laid among those of spawning mouthbrooding cichlids, and the young catfish hatch first inside the cichlid’s mouth. It has been bred this way in aquariums, usually with non-Tanganyikan cichlids as hosts.
Habitat and Origin
- Geographic origin
- Africa, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Zambia
- Natural habitat
- Lake
- Aquarium contexts
- Planted Aquarium
- Audience level
- Intermediate
Classification
- Profile type
- Recognized species
- Genus
- Synodontis
- Family
- Mochokidae
- Species group
- Catfish, Fish, Other Catfish
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Flagtail Catfish
Dianema urostriatum
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 12.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 173 litres
- Temperature
- 25–28 °C
Glass Catfish
Kryptopterus vitreolus
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 6.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 81 litres
- Temperature
- 20–26 °C
Ocellifer Catfish
Synodontis ocellifer
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 20 cm
- Minimum tank
- 81 litres
- Temperature
- 23–28 °C