Macrostoma Squeaker

Synodontis macrostoma lives up to its name with a disproportionately wide, capacious mouth that allows it to engulf prey items considerably larger than those taken by most Synodontis. Native to the Congo basin, it is a powerfully built species that occupies deeper sections of large rivers and is comparatively uncommon in the hobby.

In the aquarium it requires a large, well-filtered tank and must be kept exclusively with robust fish that are clearly too large to be swallowed. Its dietary flexibility means it readily accepts a wide range of meaty sinking foods, from large pellets to whole small crustaceans.

Due to its predatory tendencies and substantial size, it is an advanced-keeper species best suited to dedicated large catfish or African cichlid setups.

Water: 22–27°C, pH 6.5–7.5, soft to moderately hard (GH 5–15, KH 2–10). Tank: 400 L minimum; large caves and overhangs; powerful filtration; open substrate for foraging. Feeding: Large pellets, frozen prawn, mussel, earthworm; large whole crustaceans accepted. Breeding: Not documented in captivity; cave spawner presumed. Compatibility: Keep only with fish clearly too large to be swallowed; suitable with very large cichlids and catfish.