All fish / Mochokidae

Irsacae Synodontis

Synodontis irsacae

Also known as irsac's synodontis, irsacae catfish, synodontis irsacae, irsacae squeaker, tanganyika squeaker, synodontis irsaca, シノドンティス・イルサカエ, 伊萨卡歌唱猫

No free-to-use photo of this fish yet. Took one yourself? Send it to us and we will credit you.

A sturdy squeaker catfish from Lake Tanganyika with a tan to olive body covered in dark spots and white edges on the fins. It is popular as a hardy, active bottom dweller for African cichlid tanks, where it copes well with hard, alkaline water.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

13 cm

Temperature

23 to 27 °C

pH

7.5 to 9

Smallest tank

200 litres

Keep as

Singly or in a group of 3 or more in a large tank

Diet

Omnivore: sinking pellets, catfish tablets, frozen bloodworm, brine shrimp and vegetable matter

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 15 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Lake Tanganyika (Burundi, DR Congo, Tanzania, Zambia)

Breeding

Captive spawning is uncommon in home tanks, and most fish in the trade are commercially bred, sometimes using hormones. It is not thought to be a cuckoo spawner like Synodontis multipunctatus.

Good to know

Can be quarrelsome with its own kind and other bottom dwellers, so provide plenty of caves. Often confused with Synodontis granulosus and hybrids such as the 'Synodontis lucipinnis' crosses sold under similar names.