One-spot synodontis
Synodontis notatus
Also known as One-spot squeaker, Domino synodontis, Spotback catfish
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–81°F
- 22–27°C
- pH
- 6.5–7.5
- Adult size
- 9.8 in
- 25 cm
- Minimum tank
- 53 gal
- 200 L
- Temperament
- Mostly 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 one-spot is an attractive, mostly peaceful squeaker that grows to a fair size, so it suits a larger community with robust tankmates rather than a nano tank. It does well in a small group and forages actively once settled. Feed sinking pellets, frozen foods, and vegetable matter. Give it sand, wood, and caves in a tank of at least 200 liters.
In the wild
The one-spot synodontis lives in the Congo basin, foraging over sand and among submerged wood in warm, moderately flowing water. It is active mainly at night and hides in cover during the day. Provide a soft sandy floor to protect its barbels, driftwood and rock caves, and open swimming space, at 22 to 27 degrees C.
Good to know
This squeaker reaches about 25 cm and is easily known by the single round black spot on each silvery flank, though some individuals carry two, three, or more. It has the family's bony head shield, sharp locking spines, and long barbels. There is no home breeding record for it.
Did you know
The name says one spot, but the number of flank spots varies a lot between individuals, so a tank of them can show anything from a single dot to a scatter of them.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
One-spot synodontis is a mostly 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.
Cupid cichlid
Biotodoma cupido
Freshwater4.7 in (12 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)68–86°F (20–30°C)
Celebes halfbeak
Nomorhamphus liemi
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 40 gal (150 L)68–77°F (20–25°C)
Giant whiptail catfish
Sturisomatichthys aureus
Freshwater7.9 in (20 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Barna baril
Opsarius barna
Freshwater5.9 in (15 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)64–79°F (18–26°C)
Blue spotted hill trout
Barilius bakeri
Freshwater5.1 in (13 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)64–79°F (18–26°C)
Meridionalis eartheater
Gymnogeophagus meridionalis
Freshwater4.3 in (11 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)61–79°F (16–26°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a One-spot synodontis need?
A One-spot synodontis needs at least 53 gal (200 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a One-spot synodontis need?
A One-spot synodontis is comfortable at 72–81°F (22–27°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.5.
How big does a One-spot synodontis get?
An adult One-spot synodontis reaches about 9.8 in (25 cm).
Related species
9.3 in (23.5 cm)79 gal (300 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Pardalis squeaker
Synodontis pardalis
9.3 in (23.5 cm) · 79 gal (300 L)
8.7 in (22 cm)79 gal (300 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Velifer squeaker
Synodontis velifer
8.7 in (22 cm) · 79 gal (300 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)
11.8 in (30 cm)53 gal (200 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Decorated squeaker
Synodontis decorus
11.8 in (30 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)
11.8 in (30 cm)106 gal (400 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Filament squeaker
Synodontis filamentosus
11.8 in (30 cm) · 106 gal (400 L)
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)