Clown Squeaker

About

The Back-swimming Congo Catfish (Synodontis decorum) is one of the more visually distinctive members of its genus, sometimes sold under the names Clown Squeaker or Decorated Synodontis. Native to river systems across the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, and the Republic of Congo, this species carries bold patterning and a dramatically extended first dorsal fin ray that sets it apart from most other Synodontis on the market. It also belongs to a small club of only three species in the genus that develop filamentous outer barbels, giving it an ornate, almost fringed look up close. Like most Synos, it is nocturnal and secretive, so don't expect to see much of it during the day. Running a dim moonlight or a red-spectrum bulb for a couple of hours after your main lights go off is a reliable trick for getting it to come out and feed. Despite being listed as aggressive, it is reasonably tolerant of fish it cannot swallow and is less territorial than many of its relatives, even accepting the company of others of its own kind in a large enough setup. Larger barbs, characins, cichlids, and Loricariids make good companions. Just avoid anything prone to fin-nipping, as that elongated dorsal filament is a tempting target.