All fish / Mochokidae

Malawi squeaker

Synodontis njassae

Also known as malawi squeaker, malawi synodontis, nyasa synodontis, lake malawi squeaker, njassae catfish, synodontis njasae, spotted malawi squeaker, シノドンティス・ニャッサエ, 马拉维倒吊鲶

This is a small squeaker catfish from Lake Malawi, with a pale brown to cream body covered in dark spots and three pairs of barbels. It suits hard, alkaline Malawi cichlid tanks, where it eats leftover food and holds its own among lively mbuna.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

15 cm

Temperature

23 to 27 °C

pH

7.5 to 8.6

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 some vegetable matter

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

8 to 12 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Lake Malawi and its outflow, Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania

Breeding

Captive spawning is rare and is not reliably documented. Like several other lake Synodontis it may be a cuckoo spawner that slips its eggs among mouthbrooding cichlids, but this has not been confirmed.

Good to know

It looks very like S. multipunctatus and S. petricola and is often sold mixed up with them, so check fin margins and spot size. Give it caves, because it can quarrel with others of its kind over hiding places.