TankBud

Vermiculated squeaker

Synodontis schoutedeni

Also known as Schoutedeni catfish

FreshwaterFish

Vermiculated squeaker (Synodontis schoutedeni)
Imperial Tropicals · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–81°F
22–27°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
5.9 in
15 cm
Minimum tank
24 gal
90 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
Egg scatterer
Rarity
Common
Family
Mochokidae
Origin
Congo River basin, Democratic Republic of the Congo (central Africa)

Overview

The vermiculated squeaker is a mostly peaceful African catfish for the bottom of a community tank. It is easy to keep.

Did you know

The squeaker name is literal for this catfish. It can make an audible squeak or croak by working the bony base of its pectoral fins against the shoulder socket. You can sometimes hear it when one is netted or handled.

Caring for the vermiculated squeaker

Give vermiculated squeakers a tank of at least 24 gal (90 L), with dim lighting and plenty of caves, driftwood and rockwork. Each fish should have its own retreat. Use soft sand or a smooth surface that will not scratch their barbels.

Keep the water at 72 to 81°F (22 to 27°C), soft to moderately hard, with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Go gentle on water changes, since they react badly to large swings and raw tap water. They are omnivores that take most foods, but they bloat easily. Feed dried foods sparingly, and lean on vegetable matter and frozen or live treats.

Keep one on its own or a small group of three or more, with enough hiding spots to go around. They are mostly peaceful and only mildly territorial over a favored retreat. House them with calm to moderately lively community fish that are too big to swallow, over about 5 cm. Skip aggressive Rift Lake cichlids.

In the wild they are seasonal egg scatterers with no parental care. Commercial or home breeding is barely documented, so do not expect them to spawn in a tank.

Good to know

The vermiculated squeaker is an African squeaker catfish in the family Mochokidae. FishBase lists a wild maximum of about 17 cm. It is also called the schoutedeni catfish.

In the wild

Vermiculated squeakers come from the Congo River basin in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in central Africa. They live along the bottom, rummaging and rasping at the substrate.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The vermiculated squeaker 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.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a vermiculated squeaker need?

A vermiculated squeaker needs at least 24 gal (90 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a vermiculated squeaker need?

A vermiculated squeaker is comfortable at 72–81°F (22–27°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a vermiculated squeaker eat?

A vermiculated squeaker is an omnivore that takes most foods. Feed dried foods sparingly, since it bloats easily, and lean on vegetable matter and frozen or live treats.

How big does a vermiculated squeaker get?

An adult vermiculated squeaker reaches about 5.9 in (15 cm).

How does a vermiculated squeaker breed?

Vermiculated squeakers are seasonal egg scatterers in the wild and give no parental care. Breeding in tanks is barely documented, so do not expect a spawn.

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