Above: In this picture is a nice young premium quality Synodontis Decorus, swimming in one of our aquariums, when one of us snapped this picture.
Comments: This catfish is rarely seen in live fish stores or in online stores.
Premium Fish like these catfish are more energetic, more hardy, and more colorful than fish from other sources.
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Maximum Size: In aquariums, this catfish often grows to be about 10" long, but they live many years and continue to grow their entire lives.
So an old Decora can be longer than 10".
Behaviors: They usually hide when the lights are on, but they will quickly come out, when food is offered to them.
If netted out of the water, like many Synodontis catfish, they'll usually make a squeaking sound in the net, and so Synodontis are often called Squeakers.
They'll quarrel mildly with other Squeaker Catfish, but otherwise they're not aggressive. Like most catfish they will eat any fish that fits into their mouths.
Click here to learn about aquarium temperature, aquarium thermometers, and aquarium heaters.
Feeding: Premium Fish Food Pellets.
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Water Conditions: this catfish tolerates of a wide range of water conditions. Probably a pH of about 7 with moderate hardness is best.
Most water in the US has a higher pH and is harder but seems to be OK, so it's probably best NOT to adjust the pH or the hardness of the water.
Here in our facilities the water is hard and the pH is usually about 7.8. We ship them in this water.
Aquarium Size: When less than 3" long they can live in 30-gallon aquarium, but when fed well, they will soon need a larger aquarium. For example an aquarium with 150-gallons of water.
Decor: These catfish do not need gravel, and a layer of gravel more than 1/4" thick will usually fill with bits of uneaten food that will contaminate the water.
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Live Plants: are beautiful, improve the water quality, but will be bulldozed out of the way by these catfish, as they search the bottom for food.
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Aquarium Filter: Bio-Wheel Filters are highly recommended.
A Penguin 200B Filter in an aquarium with 30-gallons is OK, when these catfish are under 3".
But eventually they'll need to live in an aquarium with at least 150-gallons of water and 2 or 3-Penguin 350B Filters.
Click here to learn more about aquarium filters.
The addition of Lava Rocks will keep nitrates in the ideal range.
Click here to learn more about using Lava Rocks in aquariums.
Life Span: This catfish can live for several years, maybe many years with excellent care, including excellent water and premium fish foods.
Gender: As they mature, the females will fill with eggs and get plumper. But it's usually not easy to see.
Breeding: there are no reports of this catfish being spawned in an aquarium.
But fish farmers use injections of hormones to trigger spawning, and now large numbers of these catfish are produced.
Popularity: rather popular.
Names: Synodontis decorus
We hope you've enjoyed reading these comments.
DrTom - 08/07/2015
All of our fish are Premium Quality Fish from the best suppliers in the world. Our fish have better health, more energy and brighter colors, as you can see in our pictures on this website.
We have 380-aquariums with lots-and-lots of popular aquarium fish plus lots-and-lots of rare fish!
We consider ourselves to be the link between the world's best sources of fish and the world's best customers. We love our work, and we are very responsible about caring for our fish and then shipping them carefully.
We also offer lots and lots of information about keeping and caring for pet fish, all from the knowledge of the Bailey Brothers, who have a combined total of 100+ years of experience as breeders, wholesalers, and retailers of pet fish!
Our fish and our customers are treated with the best of care, and we work energetically everyday to make sure every customer enjoys their new fishy friends.
When you purchase pet fish from us, you know you're receiving premium quality fish and premium quality service.
"Received my fish last night and was so pleased! They all arrived alive and appeared to be healthy.
"Once in the tank, they became very active and are now thriving in their new home.
"Beautiful fish, I asked for color and aquariumfish delivered. Processing and shipping was extremely quick."
Nevin and DrTom, the Bailey Brothers
This website is owned and operated by the Bailey Brothers, DrTom and Nevin, who've been together in the fish business for more than 50-years.
The Product Manager has been with the company for more than 35-years.
So we feel very confident that this is the fishiest crew anywhere.