Bugeye squeaker

Care at a glance

Overview

The bugeye is a peaceful, small squeaker that stays manageable 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. Feed sinking pellets, frozen bloodworm, and other small meaty foods after lights out. A tank around 114 liters with sand and caves is plenty.

In the wild

The bugeye squeaker comes from the Congo basin, where it forages over the bottom in warm, slow to moderate water and shelters among wood and roots. It is nocturnal and spends the day hidden in caves. Set it up with soft sand, driftwood, and shady retreats, at 22 to 26 degrees C and a near-neutral to slightly acidic pH.

Good to know

This is one of the smallest members of the genus, reaching only about 10 cm, with a short deep body, oversized eyes, and a large head that give it a distinctive look. Like several African squeakers it commonly swims and feeds belly-up. It is often confused with the true upside-down catfish, Synodontis nigriventris.

Did you know

Its big eyes and blunt head are the giveaway, and like its larger relatives it often cruises the tank upside down to pick food from the underside of wood and leaves.

Related species

• 

  Upside-down catfish

  Synodontis nigriventris

  3.9 in (10 cm)30 gal (115 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
• Dwarf petricola

  Synodontis lucipinnis

  3.9 in (10 cm)30 gal (114 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)

• 

  Even-Spotted squeaker

  Synodontis petricola

  4.7 in (12 cm)45 gal (170 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
• Pyjama synodontis

  Synodontis flavitaeniatus

  7.1 in (18 cm)53 gal (200 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)

• 

  Cuckoo squeaker

  Synodontis multipunctatus

  9.8 in (25 cm)50 gal (190 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)

• 

  Vermiculated squeaker

  Synodontis schoutedeni

  5.9 in (15 cm)24 gal (90 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)