Home / Fishes / Catfish / yellow marbled Synodontis
No federal permit to keepyellow marbled Synodontis
Synodontis schoutedeni
Fishes › Catfish (Siluriformes) › Mochokidae (Synodontis and squeaker catfish)
Synodontis schoutedeni, known as the yellow marbled Synodontis, is a species of upside-down catfish native to the Congo Basin of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo.
Care at a glance
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 36 in long and 12 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 6.7 in / 17.1 cm).
- Water: Freshwater.
- Temperature: 72–79°F (range recorded for this species).
- pH: 6–7.5.
- Hardness: 4–15 dGH.
- Layout: Uses both the bottom and open water: give open swimming space plus cover near the substrate.
- Availability: Rarely or never seen in the aquarium trade; expect to source it from specialists or not at all.
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: a fairly wide range, from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, 72–81 °F, pH 6–7.5, 3–15 dGH.
- Behaviour: temperament peaceful.
- Difficulty: Easy (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “A dimly lit aquarium with a soft substrate and rocks, pieces of driftwood and twisted roots arranged to form hiding places suits this species.”
- Diet: “Synodontis are omnivorous and are most unfussy in terms of feeding.”
- Tankmates: “A peaceful fish that can be maintained with many species, provided they are over 2" in length and thus can escape predation.”
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 Lore Rose David in 1936, based upon a holotype discovered in Basongo, in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The specific name "schoutedeni" is named after the Belgian zoologist Henri Schouteden.
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Synodontis schoutedeni” (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. Its electric organ is located dorsally and consists of modified striated muscle. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater, 72–79 °F (22–26 °C), pH 6–7.5, hardness 4–15 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, 72–79 °F.
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 88°F (up to 89°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 67°F (down to 64°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 76–78°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 79–83% on average (driest month about 76%) |
| Rainfall | about 1682 mm a year |
Measured at 35 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 schoutedeni, known as the yellow marbled Synodontis, is a species of upside-down catfish native to the Congo Basin of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo. It was first described by Belgian ichthyologist Lore Rose David in 1936, based upon a holotype discovered in Basongo, in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The specific name "schoutedeni" is named after the Belgian zoologist Henri Schouteden. — 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 |
| Reproduction | Distinct pairing during breeding. — FishBase |
| Appearance and size | The fish is cream-colored with a brownish-mauve marbled pattern on the head, body, and adipose fin. Other fins are clear with dark spots. The color patterns on the fish tend to become more pronounced in older individuals. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Biology | Its electric organ is located dorsally and consists of modified striated muscle. — 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.
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