Pyjama Catfish

Geographic Origin and Biotope: Congo River Basin (Democratic Republic of the Congo). Frequents slow-flowing streams and swampy margins of large rivers, shaded and full of decaying vegetation.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Yellow-striped Squeaker / Pyjama Catfish (Synodontis flavitaeniatus). African catfish. It has a slimmer and more elongated shape than other Synodontis, large feathered barbels and the classic ossified skull.

Social Behavior: Relatively peaceful. Unlike the turbulent and aggressive Synodontis of Lake Tanganyika, the Pyjama catfish tolerates its peers well if kept in a small group and provided with sufficient individual dens.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: The African Pajamas. Brown/dark red body longitudinally crossed by wide wavy bands (stripes) of bright yellow or orange. Pectoral and caudal fins show brown edges or streaks. Females slightly thicker.

Aquarium Setup: Congo biotope tank (Minimum 120 cm / 48 inches). Lots of submerged wood (bogwood), PVC pipes or broken terracotta pots to create multiple dens. Soft sand on the bottom, and very little light to entice it to come out.

Diet and Feeding: Omnivorous scavenger. Voraciously consumes sinking tablets (spirulina and carnivorous), bloodworms, tubifex and granules. Loves to graze on woods to look for trapped microorganisms.

Water Quality: Unlike the Synodontis of the lakes (which require alkaline pH), the flavitaeniatus loves soft and slightly acidic waters (pH 6.5) loaded with tannins, typical of the Congo River.

Compatibility and Tankmates: Ideal fish for large African community aquariums (not Rift lakes). Perfect pairing with Congo Tetras (Phenacogrammus), large Barbs, African butterfly fish (Pantodon) or peaceful river cichlids.

Aquarium Reproduction: Never documented or successful. There is no reliable information, but it is presumed that, like other fluvial Synodontis species, they lay in dark cavities during the rainy seasons.

Risks and Diseases: The stuck "Squeaker" fish. If stressed or taken out of the water (use rigid containers, not nets!), it uses its pectoral bones to squeak loudly. Its pectoral fins have a lock-joint mechanism: it will voluntarily wedge itself in trunks and pulling it out will break its bones.