Orientalis squeaker
Synodontis orientalis
Also known as Eastern dwarf squeaker
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–81°F (23–27°C)
- pH
- 6.2–7.8
- Adult size
- 4.3 in (11 cm)
- Minimum tank
- 42 gal (160 L)
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- Tankmates with caution
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Rare
- Origin
- Ruvu and Rufiji drainages, Tanzania
- Family
- Mochokidae
Overview
This is a small, solitary squeaker of around 11 centimeters, best kept one to a tank as it does not form groups. It is a bottom dweller that shelters among wood and rock by day and comes out to feed after dark. It is mostly peaceful, but as a caution fish it should share the tank with calm, suitably sized companions rather than very large or boisterous species that would bully a small catfish. Feed small sinking foods, fine pellets, and frozen items such as bloodworm and daphnia. A tank of around 160 liters is enough.
In the wild
This species lives in coastal river systems of eastern Tanzania, in the Ruvu and Rufiji drainages, among wood and rock. Furnish the tank with a sand floor, bogwood, and rocky caves for shelter, with gentle to moderate flow. Keep the water warm, from 23 to 27 C, at a pH of 6.2 to 7.8 spanning soft and slightly acidic to slightly hard.
Good to know
A dwarf member of the family Mochokidae, it reaches only about 11 centimeters, small for the genus. It was described comparatively recently, by the ichthyologist Lothar Seegers in 2008. Breeding has not been recorded in aquaria.
Did you know
Its name, orientalis, means eastern, and it fits: this is one of the few squeakers from the East African coast, living in Tanzanian rivers rather than the West and central African waters that most of the genus calls home.
Common questions
What size tank does an Orientalis squeaker need?
An Orientalis squeaker needs at least 42 gal (160 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH do Orientalis squeaker need?
Orientalis squeaker are comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 6.2–7.8.
How big do Orientalis squeaker get?
An adult Orientalis squeaker reaches about 4.3 in (11 cm).
Where to buy
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