Moderate
Featherfin Synodontis (Synodontis eupterus)
22–26°C · pH 6.2–7.5 · 300L
£6.99
Dark form of the cuckoo-type Synodontis from Lake Tanganyika. A social, 15 cm brood-parasite catfish for hard, alkaline tanks of 200 L+.
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller — pick a size variant above for the actual shipping size. Product-photo provenance and any image-specific limitations are stated on the listing.
Synodontis multipunctatus
Synodontis multip. sp. black are a shoaling species — they need 6+ to feel safe and show their full colour. Larger shoals stay calmer, eat better, and look stunning.
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Dark form of the cuckoo-type Synodontis from Lake Tanganyika. A social, 15 cm brood-parasite catfish for hard, alkaline tanks of 200 L+.
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller — pick a size variant above for the actual shipping size. Product-photo provenance and any image-specific limitations are stated on the listing.
22–26°C · pH 6.2–7.5 · 300L
22–28°C · 350L
18–26°C · pH 6.5–8 · 30L
23–27°C · pH 7.4–8.4 · 1000L
Maintain these water conditions for optimal health and vibrant colors
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.
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.
