Order Siluriformes
Family Mochokidae (Squeakers or Upside-down catfishes)
Genus Synodontis.
Inhabitants of the African continent, the Congo River and its tributaries. Synodontis are generally peaceful and calm catfishes by nature. The body is somewhat elongated, stocky, slightly compressed laterally, and covered with slimy and tough skin. There is a large adipose fin. Males are brighter, slimmer, and smaller than females. Females have a strongly developed abdomen. Synodontis are schooling fish, and this should be taken into account when keeping and breeding them.
In youth and adolescence, the fish are very active and quite peaceful. With age, they become nocturnal and sluggish, and their temperament may deteriorate. After reaching sexual maturity (at two years of age and older), their intraspecific aggressiveness increases sharply. The hierarchical order is strictly observed, otherwise the offender faces a severe lesson.
Depending on maintenance conditions, they can be active during both daytime and evening hours, but the peak of activity occurs at night. During this time, the fish feed intensively. The diet should consist of 80% animal matter (bloodworms, tubifex, glassworms, daphnia, cod fillet, scraped meat, beef heart) and 20% plant matter (lettuce and dandelion leaves, scalded oatmeal, bread crumbs).
They can be kept in a community aquarium with patches of dense vegetation and various shelters. The aquarium should not be small. Bogwood serves not only as ideal hiding places but also as a source of edible cellulose for them. Often the fish actively rasp at them, cleaning them to a mirror shine just as well as loricariid catfishes. Therefore, the bogwood must be properly prepared. Aeration, filtration, and water changes are necessary. They like water movement, stay in hiding places during the day, and become active at dusk. At night, they dig in the substrate and may uproot plants.
Lighting should be moderate. They do not like bright light and require hiding places. Do not keep with small fish. They accept various types of food, both meaty and vegetable. In nature, they often feed on snails and will do the same in the aquarium. Synodontis rarely get sick. They are susceptible to fungal diseases. They mature at 1.5-3 years. In the aquarium, they live from 5 to 15 years. dH 4-20°; pH 6.5-7.5; T 23-26°C.
— Highfin Synodontis — Synodontis alberti [Schilthuis, 1891]. (Eng- Big Eye Squeaker, Highfin Synodontis). Congo River basin. 16-20 cm. Olive-gray coloration with a silvery sheen and brown spots on the body and fins. The dorsal and outer rays of the caudal fin are greatly elongated. The upper barbels are white and very long. Popular not so much for its brown-green marbled pattern, but for its long barbels and huge eyes.
A peaceful fish that can be kept with many varieties if they are larger than 6 cm. Soft substrate, bogwood and rocks for shelter, floating vegetation to dim the light. Omnivorous; in nature, they often feed on snails and will do the same in the aquarium. They mature in 2 years. pH 6.0-8.0; dH 5-25°; T 22-26°C.
— Angel Squeaker — Synodontis angelicus [Schilthuis, 1891]. (Eng- Angel Squeaker, Catfish, Polka Dot Catfish). Inhabits the Congo River basin, Cameroon. 16-25 cm, smaller in the aquarium. Has a robust, slightly elongated body compressed laterally. Large eyes. Inferior mouth with 3 pairs of barbels. The fish have strong, serrated pectoral and caudal fins. Color varies depending on the habitat, ranging from a base gray color speckled with white spots to bodies with a glossy black color adorned with bright yellow spots, or chocolate color with bright orange spots. Young fish (up to 9 cm long) are red-purple with white spots.
Adults are gray or dark purple with numerous reddish-yellow or reddish-brown large rounded spots. Individuals with small white specks also occur. Unpaired fins have a zebra pattern. The adipose fin is large. Young specimens are adorned with delicate dots, but one must not forget that with age these fish grow up to 20 cm and do not become prettier. With age, the body color turns slightly gray, but the fin coloration becomes more intense. Females are larger than males and have a more developed abdomen. There is a subspecies — S. angelicus zonatus, which features four to five narrow bars and small spots on the body.
A peaceful and calm fish. They lead a nocturnal lifestyle, often coming out of hiding during the day to feed. In a community aquarium, they can be kept with fish of no smaller size. Do not keep with small fish. An aquarium with cave-like shelters and densely grouped plant clumps forming shady areas. Rounded sand or gravel is used as substrate so the fish do not damage their barbels, as they like to dig in the substrate for food. Moderate lighting. Filtration, aeration, and weekly water changes are necessary.
The diet consists of 70% live and 30% vegetable matter. In nature, the catfish feeds on insects, shrimp, fry of other fish species, and plant debris. In the aquarium, they prefer live food (tubifex, bloodworms, daphnia) but can also eat plant-based foods. Reaches sexual maturity at 2 years of age. Lifespan up to 15 years. pH 6.5-7.5; dH 3-12°; T 24-28°C.
Identification: Synodontis angelicus.
— Brichard’s Squeaker — Synodontis brichardi [Poll, 1959]. (Eng- Brichard’s Squeaker). Lower Congo River. 16 cm. Three pairs of barbels. The fish has a contrasting coloration: five shiny white-yellow thin transverse stripes lie against a dark background. Unpaired fins have a black-and-white marbled pattern. The fish’s coloration intensifies with age. Brichard’s catfish stands out even at a young age for the height and deep notch of its dorsal fin. The caudal fin is elongated with long lobes ending in filaments. The fish has a strongly flattened belly. Unusual in that it can cling to objects like loricariid catfishes, although its mouth is a semi-sucker.
This is the most diurnal species of the genus Synodontis. First of all, good water movement must be provided, as it originates from the rapids region of the Congo River. Equip the aquarium with shelters made of rocks and bogwood; the substrate should be fine gravel or sand. Can be territorial with conspecifics. Do not introduce aggressive fish to them. Planting live plants is not mandatory. These catfishes are less tolerant of poor water conditions, immediately losing their bright and colorful pattern. Prefers plant food, eats algae. pH 6.5-7.0; dH 3-12°; T 22-27°C.
Synodontis camelopardalis, clarias, contracta, decora, euptera.
Chiloglanis polypogon, neumanni, Microsynodontis batesii, Mochokiella paynei. 
