Onespot Squeaker
Synodontis notatus
- Care level
- Advanced
- Adult size
- 27.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 108 litres
- Temperature
- 22–25 °C
Species profile
Ocellifer Catfish
Synodontis ocellifer
Common names: Ocellifer Catfish, Catfish
Recognized speciesCatfish
Adult size
Up to 20 cm
Up to 20 cm
Countries of origin
Good fit for your tank?
Good fit for
- A dedicated tank built around this one fish
Think carefully if
- You keep shrimp you want to protect
A spotted catfish from West Africa, often confused with similar Synodontis. Keep alone or in a small group in 81 litres or more.
Appearance and Identification
A spotted catfish from West Africa, often confused with similar Synodontis. Its very long adipose fin helps to tell it apart. It grows to about 20 cm, and it can be territorial.
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 320–410 litres an hour
- Suggested heater
- About 75–125 W for this tank
- Minimum tank volume
- 81 litres
- Minimum tank length
- 90 cm
- Minimum group size
- 1
- Recommended group size
- 1
- 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
Fairly tolerant of different water, if it is clean and stable.
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 type
- Egg Scatterer
- Breeding difficulty
- Moderate
- Parental care
- None
- Baby foods
- InfusoriaNeeded for the first days, because most fry are very small.
- Newly hatched brine shrimpIntroduce as soon as the fry can take it.
An egg scatterer with no parental care. Adults eat eggs and fry, so use a separate tank with fine plants, moss or mesh on the bottom, and remove the adults after spawning. The fry need very small foods at first.
Habitat and Origin
- Geographic origin
- Africa, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal
- Natural habitat
- Freshwater Stream
- Aquarium contexts
- Planted Aquarium, Species-Only Aquarium
- Audience level
- Intermediate
Classification
- Profile type
- Recognized species
- Genus
- Synodontis
- Family
- Mochokidae
- Species group
- Catfish, Fish, Other Catfish
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Orange Striped Catfish
Synodontis flavitaeniatus
- Care level
- Beginner
- Adult size
- 19.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 81 litres
- Temperature
- 23–28 °C
Pictus Catfish
Pimelodus pictus
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 12 cm
- Minimum tank
- 243 litres
- Temperature
- 22–25 °C
Polka Dot Synodontis
Synodontis angelicus
- Care level
- Advanced
- Adult size
- 25 cm
- Minimum tank
- 243 litres
- Temperature
- 24–28 °C