Home / Fishes / Catfish / Cuckoo catfish
No federal permit to keepCuckoo catfish
Synodontis petricola
Fishes › Catfish (Siluriformes) › Mochokidae (Synodontis and squeaker catfish)
Synodontis petricola, sometimes known as the pygmy leopard catfish, is a species of upside-down catfish endemic to Burundi, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Tanzania where it is only known from Lake Tanganyika.
Care at a glance
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 24 in long and 12 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 4.0 in / 10.2 cm).
- Water: Freshwater.
- Temperature: 72–77°F (range recorded for this species).
- pH: 8–9.
- Hardness: 9–19 dGH.
- Layout: Uses both the bottom and open water: give open swimming space plus cover near the substrate.
Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.
Care guide
Species care notes
- Tank: a base of at least 35 × 12 in (roughly 21 US gallons); space needed is rated “large tank”.
- Water: hard, alkaline water, 75–82 °F, pH 7.5–8.5, 10–35 dGH.
- Behaviour: temperament peaceful; a shoaling fish best kept in a group of six or more.
- Difficulty: Moderate (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “Should be housed in a Lake Tanganyika biotope setup, with piles of rocks arranged to form caves and areas of open water for swimming.”
- Diet: “Synodontis are omnivorous and are most unfussy in terms of feeding.”
- Tankmates: “Should not be kept with any fish so small as to be considered food but makes a good addition to a community of hard water cichlids, ideally mouthbrooding species of Rift Lake origin.”
- Breeding: “Unlike the majority of the genus, S.”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
Synodontis and squeaker catfish
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: African mochokids include Synodontis from vegetated riverbanks and distinct species from rocky habitats in the East African Rift lakes. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- For a small S. nigriventris group, provide at least 75 × 30 × 30 cm (30 × 12 × 12 in), about 70 litres; larger species need more space.
- Use sand or another soft substrate to protect sensitive barbels.
- Provide plentiful daytime shelters: wood and roots for river species, rock caves for Rift-lake species.
- For S. nigriventris, use dim lighting and broad-leaved or floating vegetation with sheltered undersides for inverted resting.
- Separate water-chemistry plans: S. nigriventris is listed at pH 6.0–7.5 and 5–20 dGH; S. petricola at pH 7.5–8.5 and 10–35 dGH.
Climate & lighting
| Water | 75–82°F |
Diet
- Complete dried foods appropriate to adult size.
- Live or frozen aquatic foods as part of an omnivorous diet.
- Shelled peas or cucumber; S. nigriventris may also feed inverted at the surface.
Social life
- Keep S. nigriventris in groups of at least three or four and S. petricola in groups of four or more. Larger Synodontis can be territorial toward other catfish and eat small tankmates; provide separate shelters and ample space.
Health watch
- Barbel damage associated with abrasive substrate.
- Ammonia-related illness in poorly maintained systems.
- Nutritional deficiencies from an unbalanced diet.
Understanding the animal
About this animal
About this animal
It was first described by Belgian ichthyologist Hubert Matthes in 1959. The species name "petricola" is derived from a combination of the Latin petra, meaning stone or rock, and the Latin cola, meaning inhabitant.
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Synodontis petricola” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174
In the wild
In the wild
From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1
| Where it lives | Lives in freshwater. Uses both the bottom and open water. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater, 72–77 °F (22–25 °C), pH 8–9, hardness 9–19 dH. |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
| Behavior to plan for | Breeding: open water/substratum egg scatterers. |
What this means for care
- Keep water within its wild range, 72–77 °F.
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 86°F (up to 90°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 59°F (down to 54°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 69–79°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 56–71% on average (driest month about 47%) |
| Rainfall | about 1032 mm a year, with strong wet and dry seasons |
Measured at 13 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.
From the sources
From the sources
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Overview | Synodontis petricola, sometimes known as the pygmy leopard catfish, is a species of upside-down catfish endemic to Burundi, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Tanzania where it is only known from Lake Tanganyika. It was first described by Belgian ichthyologist Hubert Matthes in 1959. The species name "petricola" is derived from a combination of the Latin petra, meaning stone or rock, and the Latin cola, meaning inhabitant. This refers to the rocky environment where this species is found. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Where it lives | Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase |
| Behavior | In the wild, the species is endemic to Lake Tanganyika, which has a temperature range of 23 to 26 C, and an approximate pH of 8.5 – 9, and dH range of 4–15. It inhabits rocky shorelines in the littoral zone, to a maximum depth of 30 m. Juveniles appear to be carnivorous, feeding on water mites, seed shrimp, and insect larvae. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Reproduction | Distinct pairing during breeding. — FishBase |
| Appearance and size | Like all members of the genus Synodontis, S. petricola has a strong, bony head capsule that extends back as far as the first spine of the dorsal fin. The head is about of the standard length of the fish. The head contains a distinct narrow, bony external protrusion called a humeral process. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Biology | Found among rocks in lakes (Ref 4967). — FishBase |
Data and studies
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Adult length
Maximum recorded length. Measured as total length. Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.
Water temperature
Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.
Minimum tank footprint
Seriously Fish recommends a tank base of at least 35 × 12 in (about 21 US gallons).
Sources for this sheet
- FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
- Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
- Seriously Fish — synodontis nigriventris Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Seriously Fish — synodontis petricola Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Practical Fishkeeping — Frequently asked questions on Synodontis Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Merck Veterinary Manual — Disorders and Diseases of Fish Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- iNaturalist (captive observations) Community referenceCommunity observation platform run by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic; observations marked captive show animals living in homes, zoos and aquariums.
More synodontis and squeaker catfish
Angel squeaker
Synodontis angelicus
Aquarium hobby
Blotched upsidedown catfish
Synodontis nigriventris
Aquarium hobby
Brichard's Synodontis
Synodontis brichardi
Aquarium hobby
Clown squeaker
Synodontis decorus
Aquarium hobby
Congo squeaker
Synodontis pleurops
Aquarium hobby
Malawi squeaker
Synodontis njassae
Aquarium hobby