Lake Malawi syno
Synodontis njassae
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–82°F
- 23–28°C
- pH
- 7.5–8.5
- Adult size
- 7.5 in
- 19 cm
- Minimum tank
- 40 gal
- 150 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Mochokidae
- Origin
- Lake Malawi
Overview
The Lake Malawi syno is a mostly peaceful rift-lake catfish for the bottom of a Malawi cichlid tank. It is a good choice once you have some fishkeeping behind you.
Did you know
Lake Malawi is home to hundreds of cichlid species but just one squeaker catfish, the Lake Malawi syno. It evolved there and lives nowhere else in the world.
Caring for the Lake Malawi syno
Give a Lake Malawi syno at least 40 gal (150 L), and more room in a busy Malawi community. Build rock piles of stacked stone with caves and shaded crevices over a sandy floor. Leave open water for swimming as well.
Match the lake's hard, alkaline water with a pH of 7.5 to 8.5 and a temperature of 73 to 82°F (23 to 28°C). Strong filtration, good oxygen and regular water changes keep conditions clean and consistent. It is an omnivore that forages over rock and sand, mainly at night. It takes sinking pellets, frozen foods and vegetable matter without fuss.
Keep it singly or in a small group, with space for each fish. It is mostly peaceful but can be territorial. It pairs naturally with mbuna and peacock cichlids, which share its hard water. Breeding is not documented in home aquariums.
Good to know
The Lake Malawi syno is a member of Mochokidae and can swim upside down. It has the family's bony head plates and lockable pectoral spines, and it grinds those spines to make its squeaking calls.
In the wild
In the wild, the Lake Malawi syno is often seen in loose groups near rocky shores. Lake Malawi is a large, deep rift lake with hard, alkaline and remarkably stable water.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The Lake Malawi syno is a mostly peaceful, social 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.
Electric yellow cichlid
Labidochromis caeruleus
Freshwater4.7 in (12 cm) · 35 gal (134 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)- Size
- 4.7 in (12 cm)
- Tank
- 35 gal (134 L)
- Water
- 75–82°F (24–28°C)
Venustus cichlid
Nimbochromis venustus
Freshwater11.8 in (30 cm) · 74 gal (280 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)- Size
- 11.8 in (30 cm)
- Tank
- 74 gal (280 L)
- Water
- 75–82°F (24–28°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Lake Malawi syno need?
A Lake Malawi syno needs at least 40 gal (150 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a Lake Malawi syno need?
A Lake Malawi syno is comfortable at 73–82°F (23–28°C) with a pH of 7.5–8.5.
What does a Lake Malawi syno eat?
A Lake Malawi syno is an omnivore. It eats sinking pellets, frozen foods and vegetable matter readily, foraging over rock and sand mostly at night.
How big does a Lake Malawi syno get?
An adult Lake Malawi syno reaches about 7.5 in (19 cm).
Related species
7.9 in (20 cm)21 gal (80 L)70–82°F (21–28°C)Common syno
Synodontis nigrita
7.9 in (20 cm) · 21 gal (80 L)
7.9 in (20 cm)79 gal (300 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Congicus squeaker
Synodontis congicus
7.9 in (20 cm) · 79 gal (300 L)
7.9 in (20 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Featherfin squeaker
Synodontis eupterus
7.9 in (20 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)
7.9 in (20 cm)21 gal (80 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Ocellated squeaker
Synodontis ocellifer
7.9 in (20 cm) · 21 gal (80 L)
8.7 in (22 cm)79 gal (300 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Velifer squeaker
Synodontis velifer
8.7 in (22 cm) · 79 gal (300 L)
6.3 in (16 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Brichard's synodontis
Synodontis brichardi
6.3 in (16 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)