Polka dot syno
Synodontis angelicus
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–82°F (24–28°C)
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Adult size
- 11.8 in (30 cm)
- Minimum tank
- 55 gal (210 L)
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Very rare
- Origin
- Congo Basin
- Family
- Mochokidae
Overview
The polka dot syno is a large, prized catfish usually kept as a single specimen, since adults grow quarrelsome toward their own kind and closely related fish. It is otherwise mostly peaceful and mixes with sizeable, robust companions such as larger characins, barbs, rainbowfish, or peaceable cichlids, but anything under about 5 centimeters may be eaten. It forages over the bottom at night. Feed meaty frozen foods like bloodworms and shrimp along with sinking catfish pellets. Provide a soft sand bed, big caves, and dim light, in a tank around 210 liters or larger.
In the wild
Synodontis angelicus is native to the Congo River basin in central Africa, ranging through large rivers and their tributaries over sand and among wood. Keep it warm at 24 to 28 degrees C with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Use a soft sandy substrate to protect its barbels, with bogwood, rocky caves, and PVC tubes for shaded daytime retreats and open floor to forage. Strong canister filtration, good oxygenation, and frequent water changes handle its heavy appetite and waste.
Good to know
A member of Mochokidae, Synodontis angelicus reaches around 30 centimeters in aquaria and is one of the most striking squeakers, its dark purple-black body scattered with white to yellow spots that are densest in young fish. It has bony head plates and lockable spines and grinds them to squeak. It browses as an omnivore over the bottom. Aquarium breeding is not on record.
Did you know
A polka dot syno is most heavily spotted when young, and the crisp white dots can spread into larger, more irregular blotches as the fish ages, so no two mature adults are marked exactly alike.
Where to buy
Some links may not be the exact species or variety.
- LiveAquaria Freshwater and saltwater fish, inverts and corals
- Imperial Tropicals Freshwater fish and inverts bred at a Florida hatchery
…or ask your local fish store.
Appears in
Keeping Polka dot syno?
Track water tests, reminders and stocking fit.
Related species
Decorated squeaker
Synodontis decorus11.8 in (30 cm)53 gal (200 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Giant upside-down catfish
Synodontis batensoda11.8 in (30 cm)79 gal (300 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
One-spot synodontis
Synodontis notatus9.8 in (25 cm)53 gal (200 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Bigeye squeaker
Synodontis alberti7.9 in (20 cm)40 gal (150 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Featherfin squeaker
Synodontis eupterus7.9 in (20 cm)45 gal (170 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Ocellated squeaker
Synodontis ocellifer7.9 in (20 cm)53 gal (200 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)