Bugeye squeaker
Synodontis contractus
Also known as Bugeye synodontis, Bugeye catfish, False upside-down catfish
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–79°F
- 22–26°C
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Adult size
- 3.9 in
- 10 cm
- Minimum tank
- 30 gal
- 114 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Mochokidae
- Origin
- Native to the Congo River basin in Central Africa.
Overview
The bugeye squeaker is a small, peaceful catfish for the bottom of a community tank. It is a good next step after the easiest fish.
Did you know
The bugeye squeaker often cruises upside down, like its larger relatives, to pick food from the underside of wood and leaves.
Caring for the bugeye squeaker
Give a bugeye squeaker a tank of at least 30 gal (114 L), with soft sand, driftwood, caves and shady retreats. It is nocturnal and spends the day hidden in the caves. It stays small and manageable, so this is plenty of room.
Keep the water at 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C), with a near neutral to slightly acidic pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Feed sinking pellets, frozen bloodworm and other small meaty foods after lights out.
It is peaceful and mixes well with a community of tetras, barbs and dwarf cichlids. It appreciates company of its own kind and is more active in a small group.
Good to know
The bugeye squeaker is one of the smallest members of the genus. Its short, deep body, oversized eyes and large, blunt head give it a distinctive look. It is often confused with the true upside-down catfish, Synodontis nigriventris, and is also sold as the false upside-down catfish.
In the wild
The bugeye squeaker comes from the Congo basin. It forages over the bottom in warm, slow to moderate water and shelters among wood and roots.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The bugeye squeaker is a 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.
Neocaridina shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
Freshwater1.6 in (4 cm) · 5 gal (19 L)59–84°F (15–29°C)
Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
FreshwaterBrackish2.4 in (6 cm) · 10 gal (38 L)64–82°F (18–28°C)
Neon tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
Freshwater1.5 in (3.8 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)70–77°F (21–25°C)
Duboulayi's rainbowfish
Melanotaenia duboulayi
Freshwater4.7 in (12 cm) · 30 gal (115 L)64–82°F (18–28°C)
Silver hatchetfish
Gasteropelecus levis
Freshwater1.4 in (3.5 cm) · 30 gal (112 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Panama hoplo
Hoplosternum punctatum
Freshwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 30 gal (115 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a bugeye squeaker need?
A bugeye squeaker needs at least 30 gal (114 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a bugeye squeaker need?
A bugeye squeaker is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
What does a bugeye squeaker eat?
A bugeye squeaker eats sinking pellets, frozen bloodworm and other small meaty foods. Feed it after lights out.
How big does a bugeye squeaker get?
An adult bugeye squeaker reaches about 3.9 in (10 cm).
Related species
3.9 in (10 cm)30 gal (114 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Dwarf petricola
Synodontis lucipinnis
3.9 in (10 cm) · 30 gal (114 L)
3.9 in (10 cm)30 gal (115 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Upside-down catfish
Synodontis nigriventris
3.9 in (10 cm) · 30 gal (115 L)
4.7 in (12 cm)21 gal (80 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Even-Spotted squeaker
Synodontis petricola
4.7 in (12 cm) · 21 gal (80 L)
3.9 in (10 cm)42 gal (160 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Robertsi squeaker
Synodontis robertsi
3.9 in (10 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)
4.3 in (11 cm)42 gal (160 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Orientalis squeaker
Synodontis orientalis
4.3 in (11 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)
7.1 in (18 cm)29 gal (110 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Cuckoo squeaker
Synodontis multipunctatus
7.1 in (18 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)