Synodontis multip. sp. black - Catfish for Sale UK

Few aquarium fish reproduce quite like this one. Synodontis multip. sp. black — the dark form of the cuckoo-type Synodontis from Lake Tanganyika — is a brood parasite: at spawning time it slips its eggs in among those of mouthbrooding cichlids, which then incubate the catfish fry as their own. Watching that strategy unfold in a home aquarium is one of the hobby's genuine spectacles.

Away from the drama, this is a sociable bottom-dwelling member of the Mochokidae family that reaches about 15 cm and can live a remarkable 15 years. It belongs in hard, alkaline, Tanganyikan-style water — pH 7.5–9.0, hardness 10–25 dGH, temperature 24–27 °C — and needs an aquarium of at least 200 litres. Crucially, it is a group animal: keep three or more, because singletons miss out on the social behaviour that defines the species.

Stocking decisions are refreshingly clear-cut. Tanganyikan cichlids and other Synodontis make natural companions; soft-water species and small fish should be kept away from a semi-aggressive catfish of this size. Mealtimes are easy for an adaptable omnivore — sinking pellets form the staple, rounded out with frozen and live foods. Two practical notes follow from the biology. First, that 15-year lifespan makes this a genuinely long-term stocking decision, so plan the tank around the adult group rather than the juveniles in the bag. Second, the brood-parasite behaviour only has a stage if mouthbrooding cichlids share the water, which is why Tanganyikan communities get far more from this catfish than species-only setups ever will.

Synodontis multip. sp. black — key care facts

• Adult size: around 15 cm
• Care level: moderate; semi-aggressive temperament
• Water: 24–27 °C, pH 7.5–9.0, 10–25 dGH
• Minimum tank size: 200 litres
• Diet: omnivore — sinking pellets, frozen and live foods
• Lives on: the bottom
• Group size: 3 or more
• Lifespan: up to 15 years

Stocking the black form

This dark variant adds a bold, shadowy accent along the floor of a Rift Lake display, and pairing it with mouthbrooding Tanganyikan cichlids gives you a genuine chance of seeing its famous cuckoo spawning behaviour first-hand. Order a trio or more; every fish is covered by our live arrival guarantee and travels by licensed live-animal courier.