Synodontis petricola
Synodontis petricola
The Synodontis petricola (Synodontis petricola) is a peaceful fish that's easy to keep. Give it a tank of at least 110 litres (29 US gallons), water held at 75-81°F, and a pH of 7.5-8.5.
Captive lifespan reflects typical experience in a home aquarium, not maximum recorded age; genetics, sourcing, and care vary.
Natural distribution
Mostly South America / Africa
- South America
- Africa
Regional colours match the stocking calculator's origin map.
Synodontis petricola Tank Setup
Plan for at least 110 litres (29 US gallons) with soft sand or smooth, rounded gravel - sharp substrate wears down their delicate barbels. Keep the water at 75-81°F with a pH around 7.5-8.5.
What Do Synodontis petricolas Eat?
They're bottom feeders, so give them sinking wafers, tablets, or frozen treats like bloodworm once the lights go down. Flakes that never reach the bottom leave them hungry even when the tank looks well-fed.
Synodontis petricola Tank Mates
The Synodontis petricola is peaceful, which is the first thing to weigh up when you choose tank mates. Good matches come down to the whole stocking list working together - temperature, tank size, and temperament - not any single label. Before you buy, run your full stocking list through our stocking calculator. It weighs temperament, adult size, and water needs together, which a single species page can't do on its own.
Are Synodontis petricolas Good for Beginners?
Reasonable early choice after cycling. Buy after the tank has stable ammonia and nitrite readings, not the same weekend you fill it.
Synodontis petricola - frequently asked questions
What size tank do Synodontis petricolas need?
Synodontis petricolas need a tank of at least 110 litres (29 US gallons). A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable, and gives them more room to settle in and behave naturally.
What water parameters do Synodontis petricolas need?
Keep them at 75-81°F with a pH of 7.5-8.5, steady rather than chased to an exact figure. In a cycled tank, ammonia and nitrite should both read 0 ppm, with nitrate kept low through regular water changes.
What do Synodontis petricolas eat?
Synodontis petricolas are bottom feeders. Give them sinking wafers, tablets, and frozen foods that settle on the substrate, ideally after the lights go off. Feed small amounts once or twice a day, and remove anything they don't eat.
Are Synodontis petricolas good for beginners?
Yes - Synodontis petricolas are a reasonable beginner fish once the tank is cycled and parameters are stable. Add them after ammonia and nitrite read 0 ppm, not the same day you fill the tank.
Common mistakes with Synodontis petricolas
- Underestimating tank size - the minimum footprint is 110 litres (29 US gallons); impulse buying into a smaller tank leads to stress and shortened lifespan.
Building a community? Run the full list through the stocking calculator before you add anything else.
Great tank mates
Chosen from temperament, overlapping temperature/pH bands, plausible minimum tank footprints, and size versus yours in App-aquatic data. Hobby nuance always wins - verify stocking and temperament before purchasing.
Check Synodontis petricola against any other fish → Compares water parameters, predation risk, fin nipping and tank size, and draws both at life size.
Fish to avoid mixing with Synodontis petricolas
These well-known species are commonly sold alongside this fish but are not recommended tank mates - verify before purchasing.
- Pea PufferPredator - Pea Puffer will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- Convict CichlidPredator - Convict Cichlid will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- Common GoldfishGoldfish - prefer cooler, harder water that tropical fish cannot tolerate
