Granulated synodontis
Synodontis granulosus
Also known as Granular catfish, Granulosa squeaker
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–81°F
- 23–27°C
- pH
- 8.0–9.0
- Adult size
- 10.6 in
- 27 cm
- Minimum tank
- 79 gal
- 300 L
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Very rare
- Family
- Mochokidae
- Origin
- Endemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa.
Overview
The granulated synodontis is a big, aggressive catfish for a large Tanganyikan cichlid tank. It is for experienced keepers who can hold water quality steady.
Did you know
The granulated synodontis is one of the holy grail catfish of the hobby, and adults command high prices. Part of the reason is that it grows slowly and is rarely exported.
Caring for the granulated synodontis
Give a granulated synodontis a large, mature tank of at least 79 gal (300 L). Pile rockwork over a sandy floor, and run heavy filtration.
It demands clean, stable, hard and alkaline water, at 73 to 81°F (23 to 27°C) and a pH of 8.0 to 9.0. It is intolerant of poor water quality and reacts badly to neglect, so keep conditions pristine and consistent. Feed quality sinking foods, frozen items and some greens.
As an adult, it turns territorial and aggressive toward other bottom dwellers, so it is usually kept as a single specimen. It suits a large hard-water Tanganyikan setup with robust cichlids that can hold their own. It has never been bred in captivity.
Good to know
The granulated synodontis has a slate-gray to olive body with a fine, granular skin texture. Juveniles carry a spotted pattern that fades with age. It belongs to the family Mochokidae and is also sold as the granular catfish.
In the wild
The granulated synodontis is a prized endemic of Lake Tanganyika. It lives over rocky coasts in hard, alkaline, oxygen-rich water.
Common questions
What size tank does a granulated synodontis need?
A granulated synodontis needs at least 79 gal (300 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a granulated synodontis need?
A granulated synodontis is comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 8.0–9.0.
What does a granulated synodontis eat?
A granulated synodontis eats quality sinking foods, frozen items and some greens.
How big does a granulated synodontis get?
An adult granulated synodontis reaches about 10.6 in (27 cm).
Related species
11.8 in (30 cm)79 gal (300 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Giant upside-down catfish
Synodontis batensoda
11.8 in (30 cm) · 79 gal (300 L)
14.2 in (36 cm)119 gal (450 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Red tail squeaker
Synodontis clarias
14.2 in (36 cm) · 119 gal (450 L)
7.5 in (19 cm)40 gal (150 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Lake Malawi syno
Synodontis njassae
7.5 in (19 cm) · 40 gal (150 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)
9.8 in (25 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)One-spot synodontis
Synodontis notatus
9.8 in (25 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)
11.8 in (30 cm)106 gal (400 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Bigeye upside-down squeaker
Synodontis resupinatus
11.8 in (30 cm) · 106 gal (400 L)