Clown Squeaker

Synodontis decorus is one of the showiest Synodontis species of the Congo basin. It has large, scattered black spots on a pale gray to cream body, thick black stripes on the tail lobes and a filament extending from the first ray of the dorsal fin. This filament lengthens with age and can trail all the way to the tail; in juveniles it is short or absent.

Although it is sold in stores as cute 5–8 cm juveniles, adults reach 25–30 cm and live a long time. An aquarium of at least 300 liters should be planned before buying one.

It lives in the rivers and tributaries of the Congo River basin, among sunken trees, rock piles and roots along the banks. It spends the day in crevices and hollows and forages on the bottom at night. The water in the region is generally soft and slightly acidic.

• Volume: at least 300 liters and 150 cm of length for a single adult.
• Decor: large roots and roomy caves; as the fish grows, its hiding place needs to grow too.
• Substrate: fine sand or rounded gravel.
• Filter: strong filtration and gentle to moderate flow; a large catfish produces a lot of waste.
• Water: 23–27°C, pH 6.0–7.5, soft to moderately hard water; a 25–30% water change every week.

Omnivorous. Offer large sinking granules and tablets, frozen bloodworms, mysis, pieces of shrimp and mussel, and spirulina tablets. Moving feeding to the evening ensures this nocturnal species gets its share. Juveniles grow fast; one meal a day is enough for adults.

It is peaceful toward other large species and mostly hides during the day. As it ages it can become territorial toward its own kind and catfish of similar size. While roaming at night it eats small fish and shrimp that fit in its mouth.

Good companions: medium to large peaceful fish: large tetras, barbs, rainbowfish, calm American and African cichlids, large plecos.

Avoid: small schooling fish such as neons, dwarf shrimp; other large Synodontis in a cramped tank.

In home aquariums it is usually kept as a single individual. Several individuals can live together in very large aquariums with plenty of caves; in that case each one should have its own hiding place to prevent territorial fights.

There are very few reliable records of it being bred in home aquariums. The fish in stores are wild-caught or produced on commercial farms with hormone treatment.

• It is hardy; barbel and fin problems appear with poor water quality and sharp substrate.
• The long dorsal filament can snag on decor or on fin-nipping tankmates and break off.
• Its scaleless skin is sensitive to copper and strong medications.
• Its spines get caught in nets; catch it with a container.

Males have a pointed, prominent genital papilla behind the vent; females have a plumper body. Sexing can be done reliably only in mature individuals.