Petricola Catfish
Synodontis petricola
A strikingly beautiful and relatively small catfish endemic to Lake Tanganyika. Known for its rich brown body covered in black spots and striking white-edged fins. They are highly social, nocturnal scavengers that thrive in hard, alkaline water. They are often confused with the slightly smaller Synodontis lucipinnis.
Petricola Catfish At a Glance
Petricola Catfish Tank Requirements
Will Petricola Catfish fit in your tank?
Care guides tell you what Petricola Catfish needs, the next question is whether your tank can safely provide it. Test Petricola Catfish against your tank size, maintenance needs, and the fish you already keep before you buy.
Petricola Catfish Water Parameters
Petricola Catfish Temperament & Compatibility
Petricola Catfish Varieties
Each variety inherits the species defaults above. Only differences are highlighted.
Standard
The standard wild-type coloration. To ensure they are active and secure, provide a sandy substrate to protect their sensitive barbels and plenty of rocky caves for daytime hiding. Must be kept in groups to reduce shyness.
Differs in 1 trait from base species
Also known as: Wild Type, Spotted Petricola
Petricola Catfish Care Guide Summary
The Petricola Catfish, scientifically known as Synodontis petricola, belongs to the Catfish family group. Adults reach a maximum size of approximately 11.5 cm and have a depressed body shape with a moderate growth rate. Classified as peaceful, this species primarily occupies the bottom zone of the aquarium and produces a medium level of biological waste.
To thrive, the Petricola Catfish requires a freshwater only aquarium with a minimum volume of 110 litres and a tank length of at least 80 cm. Water temperature should be maintained between 24°C and 28°C, with a pH range of 7.5–9 and a general hardness of 10–25 dGH. A moderate water flow is preferred.
The Petricola Catfish is a rewarding species to keep, provided its core environmental needs are met. The Petricola Catfish is typically available in one standard form.
Petricola Catfish Habitat Setup
When setting up an aquarium for the Petricola Catfish, a moderate water flow best suits their natural preferences. Because this species occupies the bottom zone, the aquarium layout should prioritise sufficient floor space with hiding spots among rocks, wood, or dense planting. Useful additions include a sand substrate to accommodate their sifting behaviour and smooth gravel or rounded substrate to protect their sensitive barbels.
Petricola Catfish Compatibility Notes
Classified as peaceful, the Petricola Catfish is a social species that requires the company of its own kind to thrive. When choosing tankmates, ornamental shrimp are not safe companions. Selecting tankmates that favour different water layers from the bottom zone can help reduce competition and territorial overlap.
Who Petricola Catfish Is Actually For
Petricola Catfish is best for a fishkeeper who wants a species that can settle into a calmer community setup and can provide a keeper who can commit to a proper group of at least 4. It makes the most sense for a hobbyist who will actually build around its needs, especially sand.
The most common mistake is treating Petricola Catfish like any other community fish and skipping the soft sand it needs to forage safely. Another frequent problem is underestimating its social needs. A token pair or trio often behaves very differently from a real group.
Petricola Catfish Recommended Tank Sizes
Standard aquarium sizes that meet the minimum volume and length requirements for Petricola Catfish.
30 Gallon Breeder
40 Gallon Breeder
55 Gallon Standard
60 Gallon Breeder
75 Gallon Standard
90 Gallon Standard
Show 12 more tank sizes
Petricola Catfish Feeding & Diet Considerations
The Petricola Catfish will hunt and eat ornamental shrimp, making it unsuitable for shrimp-focused setups, will eat fry, so breeding efforts in the same tank are unlikely to succeed, and is primarily active at dusk and dawn, so offering food shortly after lights-off ensures it receives adequate nutrition.
Frequently Asked Questions About Petricola Catfish
How big does Petricola Catfish get?
Petricola Catfish (Synodontis petricola) typically reaches a maximum adult size of approximately 11.5 cm. They have a depressed body shape and a moderate growth rate.
What tank size does Petricola Catfish need?
A minimum aquarium volume of 110 litres and a tank length of at least 80 cm are recommended for Petricola Catfish. This ensures enough swimming space and helps maintain stable water conditions.
What water parameters does Petricola Catfish need?
Petricola Catfish thrives in freshwater only conditions with a temperature range of 24–28°C, a pH between 7.5 and 9, and a general hardness of 10–25 dGH. A moderate water flow is preferred.
Is Petricola Catfish peaceful or aggressive?
Petricola Catfish is classified as peaceful with an aggression score of 2 out of 10. They are generally well-suited to peaceful community tanks.
Can Petricola Catfish live alone?
No, Petricola Catfish should be kept in groups of at least 4 to reduce stress and encourage natural behaviour.
Is Petricola Catfish safe with shrimp?
No. Petricola Catfish is known to eat ornamental shrimp and is not recommended for shrimp tanks. Even larger shrimp species like Amano Shrimp may be at risk.
Does Petricola Catfish have any special tank requirements?
Yes. Petricola Catfish benefits from sand (sifters) and smooth gravel (sensitive barbels) in the aquarium. These features help replicate their natural habitat and promote overall health and well-being.
Useful setup supplies
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Guidarium Editorial Desk
Reviewed against Guidarium care, stocking, and compatibility standards. Read the editorial policy.
- Last reviewed
- May 11, 2026
- Last updated
- May 11, 2026
- Issues or corrections?
- Contact the editorial team
Top Tank Mates for Petricola Catfish
These fish are strong compatibility matches for Petricola Catfish based on water preferences, temperament, adult size, and tank behavior.
Kabia rainbowfish
Glossolepis kabia
Ideal Tank MatesScissortail Rasbora
Rasbora trilineata
Ideal Tank MatesTiger Danio
Devario maetaengensis
Ideal Tank MatesWestern Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia australis
Ideal Tank MatesWaigeo Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia catherinae
Ideal Tank MatesTami River Rainbowfish
Glossolepis pseudoincisus
Ideal Tank MatesPlants That Suit Petricola Catfish
These plants pair well with Petricola Catfish based on shared water preferences, layout fit, and how likely they are to hold up in the same aquarium.
African Onion Plant
Crinum calamistratum
Afzel's Anubias
Anubias afzelii
Amazon Sword
Echinodorus amazonicus
Anacharis
Egeria densa
Anubias Barteri
Anubias barteri
Baby Tears
Lindernia rotundifolia
Fish Similar to Petricola Catfish
Dwarf Petricola
Synodontis lucipinnis
A highly active, peaceful, and gregarious catfish endemic to Lake Tanganyika. Often confused with Synodontis petricola, S. lucipinnis stays smaller. They require hard, alkaline water (Rift Lake parameters) and must be kept in groups to feel secure. Unlike many bottom-dwelling catfish, they spend a significant amount of time actively swimming in the middle water column during the day.
Cuckoo Catfish
Synodontis multipunctatus
A striking African catfish famous for its 'cuckoo' breeding strategy, where it sneaks its eggs into the clutches of mouthbrooding cichlids. They are highly active, social, and thrive in hard, alkaline water typical of Lake Tanganyika. They must be kept in groups to diffuse conspecific aggression and are best kept with Rift Lake cichlids.
Spotted Rainbowfish
Glossolepis maculosus
A small, beautiful rainbowfish endemic to the Markham and Ramu river systems of Papua New Guinea. Unusually small for a Glossolepis species, it features a greenish-bronze body adorned with up to eight distinct black spots along its sides. They are peaceful, active schooling fish that thrive in densely planted aquariums with slow-moving water.
Panda Corydoras
Corydoras panda
A highly popular, peaceful schooling catfish easily identified by its black eye patches and spotted dorsal/tail fins, resembling a giant panda. Native to the cooler waters of the Ucayali river system in Peru, they require slightly lower temperatures than many standard tropical community fish. They are strict bottom-dwellers that sift through the substrate for food.
Pictus Catfish
Pimelodus pictus
An extremely active, striking silver catfish with black spots and incredibly long barbels, native to South America. While peaceful toward similarly sized tank mates, they are highly effective nocturnal predators that will easily swallow small fish (like Neon Tetras) whole. They are scaleless and possess sharp pectoral spines that can easily become entangled in aquarium nets.
Otocinclus
Otocinclus vittatus
A small, peaceful, and highly popular algae-eating catfish native to South America. They are obligate shoaling fish that thrive in mature, heavily planted aquariums with steady water parameters and a constant supply of soft green algae and biofilm. They are extremely sensitive to uncycled or pristine/new tanks without natural food sources.