Nile squeaker

About

The Nile squeaker (Synodontis schall) has earned a reputation as one of the more difficult members of its genus to keep alongside other fish, and that reputation is well deserved. Native to an enormous swath of Africa, spanning the Senegal, Gambia, Volta, Niger, and Chad basins among others, this is a wide-ranging and highly adaptable catfish that can grow to a substantial size in the wild. In the aquarium it tends toward unpredictability: some individuals will coexist peacefully with tankmates while others become territorial bullies that harass or outright eat anything they consider an intrusion. For this reason it really belongs in a setup with large, robust fish that can hold their own. Think big African or Central American cichlids, hefty characins, or large loricariids. Smaller fish are at genuine risk. If you are adding one to an existing community, introduce it last to reduce the chances of it claiming the whole tank as its territory. Identifying this species takes a careful eye, as it resembles several close relatives, but the very long adipose fin running nearly to the caudal fin is a reliable distinguishing feature. In the wild it feeds opportunistically on insect larvae, molluscs, fish, and detritus, so expect a similarly broad appetite in captivity. A capable beginner can manage one, but only with an appropriately sized tank and suitable tankmates.