Tanganyika Rock Squeaker

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Scientific Name

Synodontis petricola

Min. Tank Size

40 gallons

Personality

Peaceful

Temperature

75-82°F

pH

7.5-9.0/5-25°dGH

Size

5"

Diet

Omnivore

Breeding

Egglayer

Compatibility

Best kept with hard water Cichlids but can also be kept with Rainbowfish and Livebearers; should be kept in groups with at least four of its own species.

Tanganyika Rock Squeaker

This species of Catfish is endemic to Lake Tanganyika, the second largest freshwater lake in the world. These fish can be identified by their light brown bodies which are covered in darker brown spots that may be larger near the head. Tanganyika Rock Squeakers have a forked caudal fin and exhibit solid white fringing on the leading dorsal and pectoral fins. These Catfish are able to produce a squeaking sound by rubbing the spines of their pectoral fins against the pectoral girdle. This ability, combined with the location of its natural habitat, is how this species earned the name Tanganyika Rock Squeaker.

Tank Set-Up

Because they are endemic to a single body of water, tanks for Tanganyika Rock Squeakers should be set up to mimic the natural environment as closely as possible. The tank should provide plenty of open swimming space while also offering hiding places in the form of rock piles. These fish tend to hide throughout much of the day but dim lighting may help encourage them to show themselves more often. These Catfish tend to eat smaller fishes so they are best kept with larger Cichlids but can also be kept with Rainbowfish and Livebearers.

Feeding

Tanganyika Rock Squeakers are omnivorous in the wild and will accept a variety of foods in the home aquarium. Offer these fish a varied diet of dried pellets and wafers as well as live and frozen foods such as bloodworms and chopped earthworms. This diet can be supplemented with fresh vegetables such as peas, cucumbers and lettuce.

Breeding

Sexing this species can be difficult – the only information available is that mature females tend to have more rounded bellies than males. Tanganyika Rock Squeakers are often bred with success in the home aquarium. These fish tend to either scatter their eggs out in the open or engage in a spawning method called brood parasitism in which they lay their eggs among those of mouthbrooding Cichlids. Upon hatching, the Catfish fry will devour the mouthbrooder’s eggs and the Cichlid will unwittingly raise the Catfish fry as its own.