Bigeye squeaker facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bigeye squeaker |
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Synodontis alberti is a cool type of catfish. People also call it the bigeye squeaker or high-fin synodontis. This fish lives in the Congo River area in Africa. You can find it in countries like Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Republic of the Congo. A scientist named Louise Schilthuis first described it in 1891. She found it in a part of the Congo River called the Malebo Pool.
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What Does the Synodontis Alberti Look Like?
This fish is usually grey or brown. It has many small dark spots all over its body. Girl fish (females) might lose their spots as they get older. They turn more of a plain grey-brown. But boy fish (males) usually keep their cool spotted look.
Special Features of This Catfish
Like other fish in its group, the Synodontis alberti has a special bony spike. This spike is called a humeral process. It sticks out from the fish's head, near its gills. The first part of its top fin (dorsal fin) and side fins (pectoral fins) are strong and have a saw-like edge.
Its tail fin is deeply split, almost like a "V" shape. The top part of the tail is extra long. Both the top fin and tail fin grow longer as the fish gets older.
Synodontis Alberti's Mouth and Whiskers
This catfish has different kinds of teeth. Its top jaw has short, cone-shaped teeth. The teeth in its bottom jaw are S-shaped and can move.
It also has special "whiskers" called barbels. It has one pair of very long barbels near its mouth. It also has two more pairs of barbels under its chin. These chin barbels often have branches, making them look bushy.
How Big Does the Synodontis Alberti Get?
The Synodontis alberti can grow to be about 16 centimeters (about 6 inches) long. Some have even been found to be over 20 centimeters (about 8 inches) long in the wild.
Where Does the Synodontis Alberti Live?
In its natural home, this fish likes warm, tropical water. The water temperature is usually between 23 to 27 degrees Celsius (73 to 81 degrees Fahrenheit). It prefers water that is slightly acidic to slightly alkaline.
What Does the Synodontis Alberti Eat?
In the wild, the Synodontis alberti eats different things. It likes to munch on algae and plants found at the bottom of the river. It also eats insects and worms.
Synodontis Alberti as a Pet Fish
This fish is quite popular. You can often find the Synodontis alberti for sale in pet stores. Many people like to keep them in their home aquariums.
