How big does it grow?

As an adult, it reaches around 30cm in length, making it a medium-sized catfish. Even if it's small when purchased, it's important to prepare a tank sized for its eventual growth.

Can it be kept with other fish?

Its temperament is fairly calm, and it can be kept with tankmates of a similar size. However, smaller fish that fit in its mouth may be eaten, so choose tankmates carefully.

It barely swims during the day — is something wrong?

This is a nocturnal fish, so it's normal for it to stay still in hiding during the day. As long as it becomes active at night, there's no need to worry.

What should I feed it?

It generally takes well to prepared foods, especially sinking pellets. Choosing food that reaches the bottom of the tank helps reduce leftovers.

Is this a good fish for beginners?

It's generally considered suitable for intermediate keepers rather than beginners. It's hardy and adaptable, but its eventual size and water quality needs are easier to manage with some prior experience.

Featherfin Squeaker

The Featherfin Squeaker is a medium-sized catfish native to a range stretching from West to East Africa, named for its striking, feather-like dorsal fin that fans out dramatically as the fish matures. Adults reach around 30cm in length. Using its long barbels to feel around for cover, it's most active at night and tends to have a calm, unbothered temperament that gets along well in a community tank. While hardy and generally easy to keep, its adult size means it needs a tank with plenty of floor space to feel at home.

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Featherfin Squeaker key facts

Care level: Intermediate
Lifespan: 8-12 years
Size: Up to about 30cm
Temperature: 22〜26℃
Diet: Frozen and live foods, sinking pellets, vegetable matter
Tank: Reaching 30cm, an adult needs a large-footprint tank. Provide abundant cover with wood, rock and pipes.
Water Temperature & Quality: FishBase gives pH 6.2-7.5, up to 15 degrees hardness and 22-26C. Waste collects on the substrate, so clean it regularly.
Tank Mates: It grows bolder with age and disputes territory with congeners and similar-sized bottom dwellers. Avoid fish small enough to swallow.
Diet & Feeding: An omnivore taking insect larvae and algae. Combine frozen bloodworm, sinking tablets and vegetable matter.
Breeding & Spawning: Oviparous, forming distinct pairs at spawning. Rarely reproduced in ordinary aquaria.
Health & Notes: Nocturnal, so feed just before lights out. The stiff pectoral and dorsal spines snag in nets; move it in a container.

TraitsCatfishFreshwater fishAfricaMedium-sized fishHardy

About Featherfin Squeaker

The Featherfin Squeaker is a hardy medium-sized African catfish known for its dramatic, feather-shaped dorsal fin. It grows to about 30cm, so a spacious tank is essential.

7 things to know before welcoming a Featherfin Squeaker

1Plan for Adult Size
This is a medium-sized catfish that reaches around 30cm as an adult. Choose a tank with generous floor space from the start, keeping the size it will eventually reach in mind. Extra water volume also helps buffer against sudden changes in water quality.
2The Fin Behind the Name
Its name comes from the large, feather-like dorsal fin that develops as it grows. Watching the fin's shape become more defined over time is one of the fun parts of raising this fish.
3Nocturnal and Cover-Loving
During the day it tends to stay hidden among driftwood or rocks, becoming active and swimming around once night falls. Providing several hiding spots in the tank helps it feel secure.
4Feeling Around With Its Barbels
It uses its long barbels like feelers to search the substrate for food. It generally takes to prepared foods well, and sinking pellets help minimize leftovers.
5Calm, But Mind Tankmate Size
Its temperament is fairly calm and it can do well in a community tank, but fish small enough to fit in its mouth may be eaten. Pairing it with tankmates of a similar size is the safer choice.
6Hardy, But Still Needs Care
It tolerates changes in water conditions reasonably well, making it manageable even for less experienced keepers. Still, as it grows it produces more waste, so regular water changes and solid filtration remain essential.
7Prepare for the Long Haul
As a medium-sized species, this is a fish you'll likely keep for a long time, so it's worth setting up generous floor space, layout, and hiding spots from the start. Picturing its full adult size before bringing one home helps avoid surprises.

Frequently asked questions about Featherfin Squeaker

Q.How big does it grow?: A.As an adult, it reaches around 30cm in length, making it a medium-sized catfish. Even if it's small when purchased, it's important to prepare a tank sized for its eventual growth.
Q.Can it be kept with other fish?: A.Its temperament is fairly calm, and it can be kept with tankmates of a similar size. However, smaller fish that fit in its mouth may be eaten, so choose tankmates carefully.
Q.It barely swims during the day — is something wrong?: A.This is a nocturnal fish, so it's normal for it to stay still in hiding during the day. As long as it becomes active at night, there's no need to worry.
Q.What should I feed it?: A.It generally takes well to prepared foods, especially sinking pellets. Choosing food that reaches the bottom of the tank helps reduce leftovers.
Q.Is this a good fish for beginners?: A.It's generally considered suitable for intermediate keepers rather than beginners. It's hardy and adaptable, but its eventual size and water quality needs are easier to manage with some prior experience.