The cuckoo catfish or Synodontis multipunctatus is one of the more popular upside down catfish to come out of Africa. It is not uncommon to see these leopard colored catfish in many African cichlid community tanks. These cuckoo squeakers as their also called are just beautiful and very interesting to watch. They are known to be crafty and still the eggs of African cichlids while spawning. These omnivorous catfish can be very opportunistic. S. multipunctatus are very attractive and their silver gold color matched with their numerous black spots created the appearance of a leopard pattern.

 

These catfish are endemic to a wide range including Burundi, Tanzania and Zambia where it is known to feed on invertebrates and molluscs. The cuckoo catfish is listed on the IUCN red list of endangered species but assessed as least concern from fisheries and siltation. S. multipunctatus are typically kept with African cichlids in a community tank arrangement. Cuckoo catfish are omnivores and may be offered sinking catfish pellets, freeze-dried bloodworms and tubifex, and flake foods. They do well with a fine sandy bottom with ample hiding places. This species can be kept solitary or as a schooling fish.

 

Regarding breeding these catfish they are known to be a brood parasite. This means S. multipunctata will use a pair of surrogate fish as parents to incubate their eggs. It has been recorded that these catfish will dart over to mouth breeding cichlids and devor their eggs while in the process dropping their own eggs. Cichlids are often confused and will hold these eggs as their own to incubate them. In particular two African cichlids, Ctenochromis horei and Simochromis babaulti, have been known to care for their eggs under these circumstances.