Decorated squeaker
Synodontis decorus
Also known as Decorated Synodontis
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–81°F
- 22–27°C
- pH
- 6.5–7.5
- Adult size
- 11.8 in
- 30 cm
- Minimum tank
- 53 gal
- 200 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Mochokidae
- Origin
- Congo Basin
Overview
The decorated squeaker is a large, good-natured catfish usually kept as a single specimen, since it does not need its own kind and grown adults can be pushy toward other bottom catfish. It mixes calmly with sizeable, peaceful tankmates such as larger characins, barbs, and robust cichlids, but avoid dedicated fin-nippers that might target its long trailing dorsal ray. It forages over the bottom mostly at night. Feed a varied omnivore diet of sinking pellets, frozen foods, and vegetables, and provide a soft sand bed with big caves. Give it a tank around 200 liters or larger.
In the wild
Synodontis decorus ranges widely through the Congo River basin in central Africa, favoring the slower reaches of large rivers and flooded zones over sand and among sunken wood. Keep it warm at 22 to 27 degrees C with a pH between 6.5 and 7.5. Use a soft sandy substrate to guard its barbels, plus driftwood, smooth rock, and roomy caves for daytime cover, and leave open floor for foraging. Strong filtration and a moderate current keep the water clean and well-oxygenated.
Good to know
This member of Mochokidae is among the larger aquarium squeakers, reaching about 30 centimeters. Adults trail a long, pennant-like extension from the dorsal fin and wear a boldly striped tail, features that young fish under about 8 centimeters have not yet grown. Like other Synodontis it has bony head plates and can lock its spines. Reproduction has not been recorded in home aquariums.
Did you know
Young decorated squeakers look quite unlike the adults: the long trailing dorsal filament and the full pattern only appear as the fish grows past a few centimeters, so juveniles can be hard to recognize at first.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
Decorated squeaker is a mostly peaceful, solitary species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Beijiang barb
Acrossocheilus beijiangensis
Freshwater5.1 in (13 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)64–79°F (18–26°C)
Pike topminnow
Belonesox belizanus
Freshwater7.9 in (20 cm) · 44 gal (165 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Red hump eartheater
Geophagus steindachneri
Freshwater5.9 in (15 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Bleher's rainbowfish
Chilatherina bleheri
Freshwater4.7 in (12 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Blue spotted hill trout
Barilius bakeri
Freshwater5.1 in (13 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)64–79°F (18–26°C)
Parnahyba whiptail
Loricaria parnahybae
Freshwater9.8 in (25 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Decorated squeaker need?
A Decorated squeaker needs at least 53 gal (200 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a Decorated squeaker need?
A Decorated squeaker is comfortable at 72–81°F (22–27°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.5.
How big does a Decorated squeaker get?
An adult Decorated squeaker reaches about 11.8 in (30 cm).
Related species
11.8 in (30 cm)106 gal (400 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Bigeye upside-down squeaker
Synodontis resupinatus
11.8 in (30 cm) · 106 gal (400 L)
11.8 in (30 cm)106 gal (400 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Filament squeaker
Synodontis filamentosus
11.8 in (30 cm) · 106 gal (400 L)
11.8 in (30 cm)79 gal (300 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Giant upside-down catfish
Synodontis batensoda
11.8 in (30 cm) · 79 gal (300 L)
11.8 in (30 cm)55 gal (210 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Polka dot syno
Synodontis angelicus
11.8 in (30 cm) · 55 gal (210 L)
12.8 in (32.5 cm)106 gal (400 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Bug-eyed squeaker
Synodontis pleurops
12.8 in (32.5 cm) · 106 gal (400 L)
9.8 in (25 cm)53 gal (200 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)One-spot synodontis
Synodontis notatus
9.8 in (25 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)