{"product_id":"dwarf-petricola-catfish-synodontis-petricola-freshwater","title":"Dwarf Petricola Catfish (Synodontis petricola)","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"background:#E3F2FD;border-left:4px solid #1E88E5;padding:10px 14px;margin:0 0 14px;font-size:0.95em;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIn-store pickup only.\u003c\/strong\u003e Your order is reserved, we hold off on bagging until you arrive so it stays healthy in its display tank.\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Dwarf Petricola Catfish (\u003cem\u003eSynodontis petricola\u003c\/em\u003e) is a peaceful, endlessly active bottom-dweller from Lake Tanganyika and one of the easiest members of its genus to keep. Its jet-black body is dusted with crisp white spots and edged by tall, boldly striped fins, giving it a striking look that pops against light substrate. Social and outgoing when kept in groups, it is a perfect companion for a hard-water African cichlid community. Care level: intermediate. Temperament: peaceful.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBrowse more \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/fresh-water\"\u003efreshwater livestock\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/fish\"\u003eaquarium fish\u003c\/a\u003e at Squeaky's Aquatics.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #1E88E5;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eCare Guide\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePetricola are hardy and undemanding once their water chemistry matches their Rift Lake home: hard, alkaline, and stable. They spend the day scavenging the sand and rockwork for food, becoming bolder and more entertaining the more of them you keep together. Provide a fine sand bed plus caves, crevices, and rock piles so each fish can claim a hiding spot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eKeep in groups:\u003c\/strong\u003e best kept in groups of 3 or more; they are far more active and confident in a shoal.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAquascape:\u003c\/strong\u003e fine sand substrate with plenty of rock caves and overhangs.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHard, alkaline water:\u003c\/strong\u003e use a Rift Lake buffer and cichlid salt to hold pH and hardness steady.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDiet:\u003c\/strong\u003e omnivore; feed sinking pellets, plus frozen or thawed bloodworms, mysis, and brine shrimp.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #1E88E5;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable style=\"border-collapse:collapse;width:100%;font-size:0.95em;\"\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eSynodontis petricola\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCommon Names\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eDwarf Petricola Catfish, Dwarf Cuckoo Catfish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eLake Tanganyika, Africa\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCare Level\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eIntermediate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTemperament\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003ePeaceful\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMax Size\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eAbout 4 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e30 gallons\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTemperature\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e75 to 82°F\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003epH\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e7.5 to 8.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardness\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e10 to 35 dGH, hard and alkaline\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDiet\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eOmnivore\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePickup\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eIn-store pickup only\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #1E88E5;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eCompatibility\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn ideal member of a Rift Lake community. It occupies the bottom of the tank and leaves mid-water and surface fish alone. Pair it with other hard-water African cichlids and Tanganyikans such as the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/brichardi-lyretail-cichlid-neolamprologus-brichardi\"\u003eBrichardi Lyretail Cichlid\u003c\/a\u003e and other \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/fresh-water\"\u003eAfrican cichlids\u003c\/a\u003e we stock. Avoid very small fish or shrimp that could be viewed as food, and skip soft-water community fish that will not tolerate the hard, alkaline water petricola need.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #1E88E5;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eRecommended Foods \u0026amp; Supplies\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/xtreme-cichlid-peewee-1-5-slow-sinking-pellet\"\u003eXtreme Cichlid PeeWee Slow-Sinking Pellets\u003c\/a\u003e for daily feeding\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/xtreme-wrigglers-krill-slow-sinking-sticks\"\u003eXtreme Wrigglers Krill Slow-Sinking Sticks\u003c\/a\u003e for a protein-rich treat\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/fritz-rift-lake-cichlid-buffer-african-cichlid-ph-kh\"\u003eFritz Rift Lake Cichlid Buffer\u003c\/a\u003e to hold pH and KH\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/fritz-rift-lake-cichlid-probiotic-salt-african-gh\"\u003eFritz Rift Lake Cichlid Probiotic Salt\u003c\/a\u003e for trace minerals and GH\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/caribsea-african-cichlid-mix-ivory-coast-sand\"\u003eCaribSea African Cichlid Sand\u003c\/a\u003e for a natural, buffering substrate\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #1E88E5;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eFAQ\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow many should I keep?\u003c\/strong\u003e Keep a group of 3 or more. Petricola are social and will spend far more time out in the open when housed together.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAre they safe with African cichlids?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes. Their tough, spiny fins and preference for the bottom make them a great fit for a Rift Lake cichlid tank.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill they eat my other fish?\u003c\/strong\u003e No. They are peaceful scavengers, though anything small enough to fit in their mouth, like fry or tiny shrimp, may be eaten.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat water do they need?\u003c\/strong\u003e Hard, alkaline water around pH 7.5 to 8.5 kept warm and stable, just like their native Lake Tanganyika.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Squeaky's Aquatics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48950796812507,"sku":"FW1-F6962","price":29.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0767\/5209\/3403\/files\/194465_jpg.webp?v=1783412630","url":"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/dwarf-petricola-catfish-synodontis-petricola-freshwater","provider":"Squeaky's Aquatics","version":"1.0","type":"link"}