Edit Synodontis petricola

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Name

Scientific name

Synodontis petricola

Described by

Authority Matthes, Year 1959

Family

Mochokidae

Common names

Dwarf Lake Synodontis, False Cuckoo Synodontis

Photograph credits

All 4 credited

Summary

The dwarf lake Synodontis, Synodontis petricola, is a small, peaceful Synodontis catfish endemic to Lake Tanganyika. Unlike most of the gen…

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

130mm, standard length

Aquarium size

Minimum length 90 cm, Minimum depth 30 cm, Minimum height 30 cm

Water

Water conditions

Temperature 24–28°C, pH 7.5–8.5

Hardness

10–35dGH

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Peaceful

Community suitability

Community-safe

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Burundi, DR Congo, Tanzania, Zambia, Lake Tanganyika

Writing

Etymology

Petricola derives from the Latin petra (meaning rock or stone) and cola (meaning dweller), in reference to its preferred habitat among the rocks of Lake Tangan…

Distribution

This species is endemic to Lake Tanganyika.

Habitat

This species is endemic to Lake Tanganyika.

Aquarium size

90 ∗ 30 ∗ 30 cm - ~81 litres as a group should be kept.

Maintenance

Should be housed in a Lake Tanganyika biotope setup, with piles of rocks arranged to form caves and areas of open water for swimming. Dim lighting will encoura…

Water conditions

Temperature: 24 – 28 °C pH: 7.5-8.5 Hardness: 10-35 dH

Diet

Synodontis are omnivorous and are most unfussy in terms of feeding. Frozen, live and dried foods are all accepted. It also relishes vegetable matter in the for…

Behaviour and compatibility

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 speci…

Sexual dimorphism

Mature females are rounder in the belly than males. Cannot be sexed using the genital papillae technique as it is too small.

Reproduction

Unlike the majority of the genus, S. petricola is actually bred quite often in aquaria. It is usually an open spawning egg scatterer but it is also one of the …

Unlike the majority of the genus, S. petricola is actually bred quite often in aquaria. It is usually an open spawning egg scatterer but it is also one of the few fish known to exhibit a method of spawning known as brood parasitism. The others also being Tanganyikan Synodontis species! The catfish times its spawning to coincide with that of a 'host' mouthbrooding cichlid and lays its eggs among those of the host fish. The Syno eggs hatch much quicker than the cichlids' and the young catfish quickly devour all the mouthbrooder's eggs. The unwitting cichlid then guards the fry as if they are their own.

However, in aquaria by far the most productive method of breeding is to set up a separate breeding tank and try and raise all the eggs. The tank can be quite simple but should contain hiding places in the form of rock piles or terracotta pots. Water should be kept very clean with minimal nitrates. The fish can be spawned in pairs or groups (flock spawning) and whichever method is used, they should be brought into condition with plenty of live and frozen foods.

Spawning itself occurs following some chasing by the male. The fish adopt a similar stance to the "T" position seen in Corydoras breeding. The male grabs the female around the head area and eggs and sperm are released. They may also be seen lying alongside each other, quivering as spawning takes place. The adult fish should be removed once the spawn is complete in order to avoid egg predation.

The eggs hatch in around 24 hours with the fry becoming free swimming 2-3 days later. They are very small and should be offered infusoria for the first couple of days, followed by brine shrimp nauplii and powdered flake. They are fairly slow growing and it may take 6 months or more before they reach a saleable size.

There are also reports of S. petricola spawning in caves so it is obviously unfussy with regards to breeding, provided conditions are to its liking.

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Where does this come from?

My own experienceFor example, I've kept twelve in a planted 60 cm tank since March 2024.A website I sawFor example, an IUCN Red List assessment, a museum catalogue or a FishBase page.A paperFor example, Marshall et al. (2011), Water temperature differences in interfluvial palm swamp habitats of Paracheirodon axelrodi and P. simulans.A book, or something not onlineFor example, Tappin (2010), Rainbowfishes: their care and keeping in captivity.Something already on the pageFor example, the Behaviour and compatibility section already says this.

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DOI

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Authors

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Year

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Pages

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Notes

One of our favourite Synos and highly recommended for any Tanganyikan community aquarium. The dwarf form can even be kept in a South American community.

References

2 on this profile

Name

Scientific name

Described by

Family

Common names

Photograph credits

Summary

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

Aquarium size

Water

Water conditions

Hardness

Conductivity

Behaviour

Temperament

Social needs

Community suitability

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Writing

Etymology

Distribution

Habitat

Aquarium size

Maintenance

Water conditions

Diet

Behaviour and compatibility

Sexual dimorphism

Reproduction

Notes

References

References