Featherfin synodontis

Care at a glance

The featherfin synodontis from the Nile basin and West Africa owes its name to the tall, strongly branched dorsal fin that adults raise like a fan. Young fish are densely spotted; with age the pattern becomes finer and the fin more impressive.

It is active at night and needs caves and wood to retire into by day. Over the years it grows substantial and claims its own hiding place, so give it space and avoid adding other bottom catfish that will compete for the same caves.

Good to know

• Active at night
• Outgrows most home tanks
• Territorial

Related species

• Cuckoo synodontisSynodontis multipunctatus
• Upside-down catfishSynodontis nigriventris
• Striped Raphael catfishPlatydoras armatulus
• Texas cichlidHerichthys cyanoguttatus
• FlowerhornCichlasoma × hybride
• Whiptail catfishRineloricaria sp.