Spiny squeaker

Care at a glance

Overview

This is a large squeaker that reaches around 50 centimeters, so it needs a spacious tank of roughly 600 liters. Keep it singly, as it is solitary, and although it is mostly peaceful its size calls for caution: house it with large, calm tankmates rather than small fish. It is nocturnal, sheltering among heavy wood by day and taking over the floor at night. Feed substantial sinking foods, large pellets, and meaty frozen or prepared items. Give it a soft floor and sturdy decor it cannot easily topple.

In the wild

It lives in the deep channels and pools of the Congo river system, over sand and rock. A tank for it needs a large footprint, a soft sand bed, heavy bogwood, and strong filtration with good oxygen. Keep the water warm, from 23 to 27 C, at a pH of 6.2 to 7.8, from soft and slightly acidic to neutral.

Good to know

A member of the catfish family Mochokidae, it is one of the largest squeakers, reaching about 50 centimeters, with records near 59 centimeters. The name acanthomias points to spines, from the Greek for thorn. Like all squeakers it has stout, locking, serrated spines at the front of the dorsal and pectoral fins. Breeding is not recorded in captivity.

Did you know

Its name refers to spines. Every squeaker has locking, saw edged spines on the dorsal and pectoral fins, and in a fish approaching half a metre these are a serious deterrent to predators and a real hazard to handle when netting.

Common questions

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