CUCKOO CATFISH (Synodontis multipunctatus)

Cuckoo Catfish (Synodontis multipunctatus) Care Guide

Basic Information

️ Tank Requirements

️ Diet

Omnivore — not a picky eater.

Feed:

• Sinking pellets and wafers

• Frozen foods: bloodworms, brine shrimp, krill

• Live foods (occasionally)

• Algae wafers and spirulina-based foods

• Will scavenge but should be actively fed — not just rely on leftovers

Feed once or twice daily, ideally after lights out if they’re shy.

Behavior & Tank Mates

• Best known for their brood parasitism: they lay eggs in mouthbrooding cichlid nests and let the cichlid raise their young!

• Can be kept singly or in groups (3+ preferred for natural behavior)

• Generally peaceful, but can compete aggressively for food with slow or shy species

Best Tank Mates:

• African Rift Lake cichlids, especially mouthbrooders from Lake Tanganyika

• Fast-moving, robust fish

• Other Synodontis species

Avoid:

• Delicate, slow fish (e.g., fancy goldfish, discus)

• Aggressive Central/South American cichlids

• Very small fish that might be seen as food

Breeding Behavior (Unique Trait)

• In the wild (and sometimes in captivity), Cuckoo Catfish sneak eggs into the nests of mouthbrooding cichlids (like Cyprichromis or Haplochromis).

• The cichlid incubates and hatches the catfish eggs, often at the cost of its own fry.

⚠️ This behavior won’t happen unless you have the right mouthbrooding cichlids actively breeding in your tank.

Maintenance & Care Tips

• Keep water hard and alkaline like native Lake Tanganyika conditions

• Provide plenty of hiding spots to reduce stress

• Use a tight lid — they can jump when startled

• Perform regular water changes — they are sensitive to poor water quality over time

✅ Ideal For:

• African cichlid tanks (especially Lake Tanganyika setups)

• Hobbyists wanting a hardy, unusual catfish with unique breeding habits

• Intermediate to advanced aquarists