Photo: Gourami Watcher, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Featherfin squeaker
Synodontis eupterus
30 cm
Adult size
140 L
Minimum volume
1
Minimum group
15 years
Lifespan
Water parameters
Understand these values- Genus
- Synodontis
- Diet
- omnivore
- Social life
- solitary
In the wild
Overview
One of the most popular Synodontis, often sold very young (3 to 8 cm) as the “network Synodontis”, for its reticulated markings, with no mention of its adult size. This network breaks up into simple spots with age. The large dorsal fin with long filaments earns it its name. It sometimes swims upside down.
- Scientific name
- Synodontis eupterus Boulenger, 1901
- Classification
- Siluriformes › Mochokidae
- IUCN Red List
- Least concern (LC)
Natural habitat
West and north-east Africa: White Nile, Niger, Volta, Chad and Cross basins
Observations (GBIF) and localities Native countries Rivers and lakes
It lives over muddy, sometimes rocky bottoms and feeds mainly on insect larvae, but also on algae.
Behaviour
It should not live with fish small enough to be eaten. Good companions: African tetras (Alestidae), robust West African cichlids, Mormyridae, knifefish, gouramis, large Rasbora and barbs. Slightly territorial with age, especially towards other Synodontis, but much less so than its cousins. An undemanding omnivore, it also rasps plant matter (peas, cucumber).
Sources:FishBase Seriously Fish GBIF · Base map: Natural Earth