Congo Catfish

About

Found in the middle Congo River basin, this compact African catfish, Synodontis aterrima, inhabits the Ruki, Tshuapa, Lomami, and mainstream Congo waterways of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Despite being labeled aggressive and territorial, it is more accurately described as assertive rather than outright belligerent. It can coexist with a wide range of species as long as tankmates are large enough to hold their own. Alestiid tetras, peaceful cichlids like Pelvicachromis, mormyrids, gouramis, rainbowfish, and larger rasboras or barbs all make reasonable companions. Rift Lake cichlids and other boisterous tankmates are a poor match. The key to keeping multiple individuals together is making sure each fish has its own shelter to claim. Without dedicated hiding spots, squabbles become more frequent. Reaching somewhere between 2.7 and 4.5 inches at adulthood, it stays a manageable size for a medium community setup. It is an omnivore and a fairly forgiving fish when it comes to care, making it accessible even for newer keepers willing to plan around its territorial streak. Breeding has not been documented in captivity; in the wild it spawns in seasonally flooded areas and scatters eggs without any parental involvement. It turns up infrequently in the hobby, so worth grabbing when you see it.