Serpentis squeaker
Synodontis serpentis
Also known as Tana squeaker
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–81°F
- 23–27°C
- pH
- 6.5–7.8
- Adult size
- 4.9 in
- 12.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 53 gal
- 200 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Mochokidae
- Origin
- Tana basin, Kenya
Overview
The Serpentis squeaker is a compact, solitary catfish for the bottom of a tank of calm fish. It is best after some time with easier fish.
Did you know
Most squeaker catfishes come from West and central Africa, but the Serpentis squeaker belongs to the East African coast.
Caring for the Serpentis squeaker
Give a Serpentis squeaker a tank of at least 53 gal (200 L), which gives it enough room. Lay a sand floor and add bogwood and rocky caves, with moderate flow. It shelters among the wood and stone by day and forages at night.
Keep the water warm, at 73 to 81°F (23 to 27°C), with a pH of 6.5 to 7.8. It takes water from slightly acidic to slightly hard. Feed sinking pellets, catfish wafers and frozen foods such as bloodworm and daphnia.
Keep one to a tank, since it does not form groups and can be territorial on the bottom. It is mostly peaceful, but pick its tank mates with caution. House it with calm, suitably sized fish rather than large or aggressive species. Breeding in the aquarium is unrecorded.
Good to know
The Serpentis squeaker belongs to the family Mochokidae. Its name, serpentis, comes from the Latin for snake, and the ichthyologist Peter Whitehead described it in 1962. It is also called the Tana squeaker.
In the wild
The Serpentis squeaker is a Kenyan endemic, restricted to just two river systems, the Tana and the Athi. It lives there over sand, rock and wood.
Common questions
What size tank does a Serpentis squeaker need?
A Serpentis squeaker needs at least 53 gal (200 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a Serpentis squeaker need?
A Serpentis squeaker is comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.8.
What does a Serpentis squeaker eat?
A Serpentis squeaker eats sinking pellets, catfish wafers and frozen foods such as bloodworm and daphnia. It forages at night.
How big does a Serpentis squeaker get?
An adult Serpentis squeaker reaches about 4.9 in (12.5 cm).
Related species
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