Upside Down Catfish

Scientific Name: Synodontis nigriventris
Family: Mochokidae
Origin: Zaire and Niger River basin
Adult Size: 4 inches (20 cm)
Social: Peaceful
Lifespan: 5+ years
Tank Level: All levels
Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallon
Diet: Omnivore, eats most foods
Breeding: Egglayer
Care: Easy
pH: 6 - 7.5
Hardness: 4-15 dGH
Temperature: 72-79 F (22-26 C)

Description: Numbered among the Synodontis species, the upside-down catfish is aptly named for its upside down swimming posture. They are a popular species that apparently have been admired for countless centuries, as their images have been found in ancient Egyptian art.

Considered a dwarf catfish, they reach an adult size of 3-4 inches. Like other members of the Mochikidae family, they have large eyes, a large adipose fin, forked tail, and three pairs of barbels. Their light brown colored body is covered with dark brown blotches of various sizes. Interestingly, the underside of the body is darker hued, which is the opposite of fish that swim with their belly downwards. This reverse coloration serves to camouflage them when they swim at the surface of the water.

Habitat/Care: Well suited to the aquarium environment, they are peaceful and easy to care for, but are best kept in small schools. Water should be moderately soft and slightly acidic to neutral. Temperate is not critical. A well-planted tank is ideal, preferably using broad-leafed plants, as they like to browse the undersides of leaves. Driftwood, rock arches, and caves that provide places to hide, are recommended. It is quite normal for this fish to hang out on the underside of rocks, leaves, and driftwood.

Diet: In nature the upside down catfish feeds primarily on insects at the surface of the water. They will also graze on algae to supplement their diet. In the aquarium environment they adapt readily to all types of foods, from dry to live or frozen. For optimum health, provide a varied diet that includes insect larvae when possible.

Breeding: There have been a limited number of successful spawnings in an aquarium. Females are larger, are paler in coloration, and have a plumper more rounded body, particularly when ready to spawn. Preparation with live foods, and softening the water to mimic spring rains will increase the odds for success. An overturned clay flowerpot or two, or even some PVC pipe, may be offered as a possible spawning location. Parents may be left in the tank after spawning, as they will tend to the brood.

The eggs hatch in approximately two days, and the fry will feed off the yolk sac, which they carry for four days. Upon the fourth day, they will begin eating freshly hatched brine shrimp. In two months the fry will begin swimming in the characteristic upside down fashion of adults.