Velifer squeaker
Synodontis velifer
Also known as Sailfin squeaker
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–81°F
- 23–27°C
- pH
- 6.2–7.8
- Adult size
- 8.7 in
- 22 cm
- Minimum tank
- 79 gal
- 300 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Mochokidae
- Origin
- Volta, Pra, Sassandra and Bandama basins, West Africa
Overview
The Velifer squeaker is a solitary, mostly peaceful catfish for the bottom of a large tank. It is a sound choice for a keeper with some practice.
Did you know
The Velifer squeaker's name means sail bearing. When it pauses on open sand, it can lift its unusually tall dorsal fin like a sail. The same fin gives it the sailfin trade name.
Caring for the Velifer squeaker
Give a Velifer squeaker a tank of at least 79 gal (300 L), with plenty of cover. Furnish it with a sand floor, bogwood and rocky caves. It shelters among the wood and caves by day and forages the floor after dark.
Keep the water warm, at 73 to 81°F (23 to 27°C), with a pH of 6.2 to 7.8. Soft, slightly acidic to neutral water suits it. Feed sinking pellets, catfish wafers and frozen foods such as bloodworm.
Keep it on its own, as it is a solitary catfish that does not school and can be territorial with other bottom dwellers. It is mostly peaceful, though its tank mates call for some caution. Calm, medium sized tank mates suit it better than very small fish. Breeding has not been recorded in aquaria.
Good to know
The Velifer squeaker belongs to the family Mochokidae. The ichthyologist John Roxborough Norman described it in 1935.
In the wild
The Velifer squeaker lives in rivers of West Africa. Its range covers the Volta basin and the Pra, Sassandra and Bandama drainages of Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast and Ghana.
Common questions
What size tank does a Velifer squeaker need?
A Velifer squeaker needs at least 79 gal (300 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a Velifer squeaker need?
A Velifer squeaker is comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 6.2–7.8.
What does a Velifer squeaker eat?
A Velifer squeaker eats sinking pellets, catfish wafers and frozen foods such as bloodworm. It forages the floor after dark.
How big does a Velifer squeaker get?
An adult Velifer squeaker reaches about 8.7 in (22 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)
7.9 in (20 cm)21 gal (80 L)70–82°F (21–28°C)Common syno
Synodontis nigrita
7.9 in (20 cm) · 21 gal (80 L)
7.9 in (20 cm)79 gal (300 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Congicus squeaker
Synodontis congicus
7.9 in (20 cm) · 79 gal (300 L)
7.9 in (20 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Featherfin squeaker
Synodontis eupterus
7.9 in (20 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)
7.9 in (20 cm)21 gal (80 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Ocellated squeaker
Synodontis ocellifer
7.9 in (20 cm) · 21 gal (80 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)