Featherfin Squeaker Care Guide
Synodontis eupterus is an African catfish with a tall feather-like dorsal fin, native to the White Nile, Volta, Niger and Chad basins.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
The featherfin squeaker (Synodontis eupterus) is an African catfish of the family Mochokidae, described by Boulenger in 1901. It is notable for a tall, feather-like dorsal fin. The name 'squeaker' refers to the sounds it makes to communicate with other individuals.
Taxonomy
- Family: Mochokidae
- Genus: Synodontis
- Scientific name: Synodontis eupterus
Habitat
The species occurs in the basins of the White Nile, Volta and Niger rivers and in the Chad Basin. It is a bottom-oriented river catfish.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 300 L
- Temperature: 22-27 °C (72-81 °F)
- pH: 6.5-8
- GH: 5-20 °dGH
- Maximum size: about 30 cm SL (Wikipedia)
- Lifespan: 10-15 years
Diet
Synodontis eupterus is an omnivore. In aquariums it accepts a range of prepared and live foods and forages along the bottom.
Compatibility
It is peaceful and hardy, making it a common companion for African cichlids. The record lists African cichlids, large tetras and other Synodontis as suitable tankmates, while small fish and very aggressive species should be avoided.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2010).
Featherfin Squeaker Breeding Guide
Overview
The featherfin squeaker (Synodontis eupterus) is an African mochokid catfish found across the White Nile, Niger and Volta basins and the Chad Basin, reaching up to 30 cm standard length. It is widely kept but is not a fish that hobbyists can expect to breed at home.
Sexing
Females are noticeably plumper than males. Definitive sexing requires examining the genital papillae with the fish held ventral-side up: males show an extended, pointed and ridged papilla, while the female's is more rounded. Sexual maturity takes upwards of two years.
Egg & Fry Care
Because natural aquarium spawning is undocumented, there is no reliable hobby account of egg or fry care for this species. The commercial fry on the market are the product of hormone-induced farm spawning rather than tank breeding.
Common Challenges
The fundamental obstacle is that natural spawning triggers for this species have not been reproduced in aquaria; success has required injected hormones under farm conditions. Keepers should therefore treat the featherfin squeaker as a display species rather than a breeding project, maintaining it at 22-27 °C, pH 6.0-7.5 and 8-20 dH.