Cheetah squeaker
Synodontis waterloti
Also known as Waterlot's squeaker
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–81°F (23–27°C)
- pH
- 6.5–7.8
- Adult size
- 6.3 in (16 cm)
- Minimum tank
- 66 gal (250 L)
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- Tankmates with caution
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Common
- Origin
- Coastal West African rivers
- Family
- Mochokidae
Overview
Synodontis waterloti wants caves and wood to sit under by day and open floor to patrol after lights out. One is enough, as they are not social with their own kind, though a single fish mixes well with West African cichlids and any community fish too big to swallow. Feed sinking pellets, frozen bloodworm and the occasional piece of prawn in the evening. Expect it to stay nocturnal for months and then gradually come out earlier as it settles.
In the wild
This squeaker lives in the coastal rivers of the Guinea forest belt, from Guinea through Sierra Leone and Liberia to Ghana, in shaded water over sand and leaf litter. Keep it at 23 to 27 degrees Celsius and pH 6.5 to 7.8, softer and more acidic than the Tanganyikan Synodontis most keepers meet first.
Good to know
Synodontis waterloti reaches about 16 centimeters, buff to pale gold under dense dark spotting that gives it the cheetah name, and the pattern breaks up as the fish matures. Like all mochokids it has a locking pectoral spine that will tangle in a net, so move it in a container rather than lifting it out. Breeding is not recorded in aquaria.
Did you know
The cheetah print fades to plain bronze in old adults; the cat grows out of its spots.
Common questions
What size tank does a Cheetah squeaker need?
A Cheetah squeaker needs at least 66 gal (250 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH do Cheetah squeaker need?
Cheetah squeaker are comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.8.
How big do Cheetah squeaker get?
An adult Cheetah squeaker reaches about 6.3 in (16 cm).
Where to buy
Some links may not be the exact species or variety.
- Imperial Tropicals Freshwater fish and inverts bred at a Florida hatchery
- The Wet Spot Tropical Fish Large selection of quarantined tropical freshwater fish, with live arrival guarantee and Next Day Air flat rate shipping to all US locations
…or ask your local fish store.
Appears in
Keeping Cheetah squeaker?
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Related species
Brichard's synodontis
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Bigeye squeaker
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Congicus squeaker
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