All fish / Mochokidae

Cloudy Squeaker

Synodontis nebulosus

Also known as cloudy synodontis, clouded squeaker, nebulosus catfish, clouded synodontis, upside down catfish, シノドンティス・ネブロサス, 云斑歧须鮠

A small squeaker catfish with a pale brown to yellowish body covered in a cloudy, blotched darker pattern and three pairs of barbels. It stays fairly small for a Synodontis, so it suits medium community tanks with robust fish and is valued as a hardy, characterful scavenger that becomes active at dusk.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

10 cm

Temperature

22 to 27 °C

pH

6.5 to 8

Smallest tank

120 litres

Keep as

Singly or in a group of 3 or more with plenty of hiding places

Diet

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

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

8 to 15 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Zambezi, Kafue and Okavango basins and Lake Malawi catchment (southern Africa)

Breeding

Captive breeding has not been reliably documented in home aquariums. Trade specimens are wild caught or occasionally produced on commercial farms using hormones.

Good to know

Mostly nocturnal and can squabble with other bottom dwellers over caves, so provide several hiding spots. Spines can snag in nets, and very small tankmates may be eaten.