Species Profile
Cuckoo Catfish
Synodontis petricola
Catfishpeaceful
Adult size
4″
Minimum tank
30 gal
Temperature
75–81°F
pH
7.5–8.5
Schooling
Group of 3+
Water level
bottom
Diet
Sinking pellets, frozen, live
Notes
Smaller Lake Tanganyikan catfish that pairs with mouthbrooding cichlids in nature, slipping its eggs into their broods. True brood parasite. In aquariums, the social behavior remains; lives well alongside Tanganyikan cichlids.
Compatible Tankmates
Best tank mates for Cuckoo Catfish
Every species below passes the compatibility engine when paired with Cuckoo Catfishin a suitably sized tank. Verdicts come from the same rules the builder uses — click a card to see that species' own care profile and its tank mates in turn.
Harlequin Rasbora
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Fancy Guppy
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Platy
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Molly
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Swordtail
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Male Betta
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Dwarf Gourami
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Honey Gourami
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Pearl Gourami
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Bolivian Ram
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Angelfish
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Bronze Corydoras
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Photo: de:user:Nerezza / Wikimedia Commons · Source · CC-BY-SA-3.0