Synodontis lucipinnis was formerly traded as S. petricola Dwarf before being identified as a separate species in 2006; it is still often seen under the name dwarf Petricola cat. These tiny Tanganyikan catfish are reclusive during the day and will generally only be seen at night, but will come out at feeding time. In appearance they are virtually identical to the more popular petricola; the main difference is that true petricola generally have more spotting, and smaller spots on the head. These catfish are tolerant of a wide range of water parameters and so while they pair well with Tanganyikan fishes that are not so large as to eat them, they can also mix well into a general community tank.

These are locally-produced subadults around 1.5-2 long.