Pygmy leopard catfish
Synodontis petricola
A spotted Lake Tanganyika catfish for cichlid tanks; peaceful in a group but needs hard, alkaline water and may eat tiny fish.
Key facts
- Body length
- 5.1 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 26 gallons
- Group
- 4+
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Care level
- 3 / 5
- Lifespan
- Not well documented
- Diet
- Sinking pellets, frozen bloodworm and mysis
- Origin
- Lake Tanganyika, East Africa
- Hardier than14%
- Bigger than67%
- Calmer than68%
Water: their range vs yours
Pygmy leopard catfish tank mates
- AngelfishGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Bristlenose plecoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Bronze coryGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Common plecoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Firemouth cichlidGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Leopard sailfin plecoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Pearl gouramiGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Rosy barbGets along in shared water.Good mates
- SeverumGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Siamese algae eaterGets along in shared water.Good mates
- SwordtailGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Three spot gouramiGets along in shared water.Good mates
- BettaPygmy leopard catfish can eat young or small Betta; adults are big enough to be safe.Risky
- Black widow tetraPygmy leopard catfish can eat young or small Black widow tetra; adults are big enough to be safe.Risky
- Blood parrot cichlidPygmy leopard catfish outcompetes the slow-eating Blood parrot cichlid for food; target-feed to make sure it eats.Risky
- Blue dolphin cichlidBlue dolphin cichlid can eat young or small Pygmy leopard catfish; adults are big enough to be safe.Risky
- Chinese algae eaterChinese algae eater attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Pygmy leopard catfish.Risky
- Clown loachClown loach attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Pygmy leopard catfish.Risky
- Neon tetraPygmy leopard catfish can eat Neon tetra: prey body depth 0.7 cm ≤ mouth 3.3 cm.Avoid
- Harlequin rasboraPygmy leopard catfish can eat Harlequin rasbora: prey body depth 1.1 cm ≤ mouth 3.3 cm.Avoid
- Fancy guppyPygmy leopard catfish can eat Fancy guppy: prey body depth 0.8 cm ≤ mouth 3.3 cm.Avoid
- Panda corydorasPygmy leopard catfish can eat Panda corydoras: prey body depth 2.4 cm ≤ mouth 3.3 cm.Avoid
- OtocinclusPygmy leopard catfish can eat Otocinclus: prey body depth 0.7 cm ≤ mouth 3.3 cm.Avoid
- Cherry shrimpPygmy leopard catfish can eat Cherry shrimp: prey body depth 0.8 cm ≤ mouth 3.3 cm.Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for pygmy leopard catfish: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 13 cm (SL)
- Adult mass
- 32.95 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 8.14 BU
- Min. water
- 81 L net
- Min. footprint
- 90 × 30 cm per group
- Group
- 4+ (best 6)
- Swims in
- bottom
- Flow
- moderate
- Body / fins
- fusiform, normal fins
- Diet type
- omnivore
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- copper
Sources: Seriously Fish: Synodontis petricola
Care notes
Pygmy leopard catfish come from the rocky shores of Lake Tanganyika. They are among the most peaceful synodontis, but single fish hide constantly, so they show best in a group.
Keep four or more in at least a 20 gallon tank with a 36-inch footprint and hard water at pH 7.5–8.5. That rules out soft-water Amazon fish, and very small fish and fry may be eaten at night.
Questions
What size tank does a pygmy leopard catfish need?
At least 26 gallons (81 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 5.1 inches without fins.
How many pygmy leopard catfish should be kept together?
Keep at least 4, ideally 6 or more: fewer feel exposed and hide or turn nippy.
What water do pygmy leopard catfish need?
75–82 °F, pH 7.5–8.5 and 10–35 dGH. Pygmy leopard catfish come from Lake Tanganyika, East Africa.
How long do pygmy leopard catfish live?
Not well documented with good care.
What fish can live with pygmy leopard catfish?
Good tank mates include Angelfish, Bristlenose pleco, Bronze cory, Common pleco and Firemouth cichlid. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.