Easily one of the more attractive catfish in the hobby, the Synodontis Petricola is an excellent addition to a community aquarium. Their bright white and stark black colorations and earth tones make them a beautiful, eye-catching specimen. Keeping these fish is fairly simple, provided the aquarist can supply for the fish’s basic demands.
Synodontis Petricola, also known as the Even-Spotted Petricola or Cuckoo Synodontis, hail from the northern region of Lake Tanganyika. They are often confused with Synodontis Multipunctatis, which comes from the same African lake. However, Synodontis Multipuncatis are also found throughout Lake Tanganyika and the surrounding rivers. Synodontis Petricola can also be distinguished by the white trim along their dorsal, pectoral, and caudal fins.
The dwarf Petricola is a slow-growing species of catfish, reaching a maximum length of about four inches. Since they are not readily bred in the hobby, prices for these fish tend to be high.