Upside-down Catfish
Synodontis nigriventris
Mochokidae
FishDifficulty: ●●○○○Data: well-established
About
The upside-down catfish is a small, peaceful mochokid from the middle Congo River basin of Central Africa, famous for the eponymous habit of swimming and feeding belly-up. Its shaded countershading is reversed to suit this inverted life, letting it graze food and biofilm from the underside of leaves, wood and the water surface. Nocturnal and sociable, it spends the day tucked into caves and driftwood and grows confident only when kept in a group.
Care
Keep a group of three or more in a soft-sand tank with plenty of driftwood, caves and shady planting, gentle to moderate flow and a secure lid. Undemanding in soft to neutral, warm water; feed after lights-out to suit its nocturnal, surface-grazing habits.
Diet
Omnivorous scavenger that eats insect larvae, crustaceans, algae and detritus in the wild; offer sinking foods plus frozen and vegetable items, ideally in the evening.
Tankmate compatibility
Gets along with (96)
African Butterfly CichlidAgassiz's CoryAmano ShrimpAssassin SnailBamboo ShrimpBanjo CatfishBlack Neon TetraBlack Phantom TetraBlack Ruby BarbBlack Skirt TetraBlackline RasboraBleeding Heart TetraBlood Parrot CichlidBloodfin TetraBlue Velvet ShrimpBoesemani RainbowfishBolivian RamBrichard's TeleogrammaBristlenose PlecoBronze CorydorasCherry BarbCherry ShrimpChinese Algae EaterClown PlecoCochu's Blue TetraCockatoo Dwarf CichlidCongo TetraDiamond TetraDwarf Chain LoachDwarf Flag CichlidDwarf GouramiDwarf Neon RainbowfishDwarf Orange CrayfishDwarf Pea PufferElephantnose FishEmerald CoryEmperor TetraFeatherfin SqueakerFlame TetraForktail RainbowfishFreshwater ClamGhost ShrimpGlass CatfishGlowlight TetraGolden Dwarf CichlidGolden PencilfishGolden TetraGolden Wonder KillifishGuppyHarlequin RasboraHead-and-Tail-Light TetraHoney GouramiJulii CoryKeyhole CichlidKribensisLemon TetraLittle CorydorasMalaysian Trumpet SnailMystery SnailOtocinclusPeaceful BettaPearl GouramiPenguin TetraPictus CatfishPlatyPolka Dot LoachPurple Emperor TetraPygmy CorydorasRainbow SharkRamshorn SnailRed Whiptail CatfishRed-Tail SharkRosy TetraSalt and Pepper CoryScarlet BadisScissortail RasboraSerpae TetraSiamese Algae EaterSilver Tip TetraSkunk CorySparkling GouramiSterbai CorydorasStriped KribensisStriped Raphael CatfishT-Bar CichlidThai Micro CrabThick-lipped GouramiThreadfin RainbowfishThree-spot GouramiTiger BarbUmbrella Dwarf CichlidVampire ShrimpVenezuelan CoryWrestling HalfbeakX-ray TetraYoyo Loach
Possible with care (123)
Acei CichlidAfrican ButterflyfishAgassiz's Dwarf CichlidAltum AngelfishAngelfishAuratus CichlidBetta (Siamese Fighting Fish)Bladder SnailBlue AcaraBlue Dolphin CichlidBlue Tiger ShrimpBorleyi (Redfin Hap)Borneo SuckerBrevis Shell DwellerBuenos Aires TetraBuffalohead CichlidBumblebee CichlidBumblebee GobyButterfly Hillstream LoachCardinal TetraCelebes RainbowfishCelestial Pearl DanioCheckerboard CichlidCheckered BarbChili RasboraChocolate CichlidChocolate GouramiClown KillifishCobalt Blue ZebraColombian Ramshorn SnailCongo Dwarf CichlidConvict CichlidCuckoo CatfishCylindricus CichlidDemasoni CichlidDenison BarbDiscusDoctor FishDogtooth CichlidDojo (Weather) LoachDwarf Petricola CatfishDwarf RasboraElectric Blue AhliElectric Yellow LabEllioti CichlidElongate MbunaEmber TetraEndler's LivebearerEven-spotted SynodontisFestivum (Flag Cichlid)Figure-8 PufferFiremouth CichlidFive-bar CichlidGerman Blue RamGlowlight DanioGold BarbGolden JulieGreen DiscusGreen Neon TetraHongi CichlidJack DempseyJapanese Trapdoor SnailJewel CichlidJohanni CichlidKenyi CichlidKissing GouramiKuhli LoachLambchop RasboraLeast KillifishLemon CichlidLeopard DanioLivingstoniMacmasteri Dwarf CichlidMaingano CichlidMarble HatchetfishMarlieri CichlidMedaka RicefishMoonlight GouramiMultifasciatus Shell DwellerNeon TetraNerite SnailOcellatus Shell DwellerOdessa BarbPanda CorydorasParadise FishParaguay EartheaterPeacock CichlidPearl DanioPeppered CorydorasPort CichlidPowder Blue CichlidRabbit SnailRainbow CichlidRed EmpressRed RainbowfishRed Zebra CichlidRedhead CichlidRegan's JulieReticulated Hillstream LoachRosy BarbRubber Lip PlecoRummynose TetraRusty CichlidSalvini CichlidSaulosi CichlidSeverumSimilis Shell DwellerSpotted HoploStar SapphireStrawberry RasboraSulawesi Cardinal ShrimpSunshine PeacockSveni EartheaterSwordtailTaiwan Reef CichlidThreadfin AcaraTurquoise RainbowfishUaru (Triangle Cichlid)Venustus (Giraffe Cichlid)White Cloud Mountain MinnowZebra DanioZebra MbunaZebra Pleco
Avoid (52)
Adonis PlecoBala SharkBlack Moor GoldfishBrichardi (Fairy Cichlid)Calvus CichlidClown LoachComet GoldfishCommon GoldfishCommon PlecoCompressiceps CichlidCrystal Red ShrimpCyprichromisDemon EartheaterDuboisi TropheusEndlicheri BichirFantail GoldfishFrontosaGoby CichlidGreen Spotted PufferfishGreen TerrorHeckel DiscusIridescent SharkJaguar CichlidKoiMalawi EyebiterMalawi HawkMasked JulieMollyOranda GoldfishOrnate BichirOscarPeacock BassPike CichlidRanchu GoldfishRed DevilRed TerrorReticulated Flying FoxRostratusRosy Red MinnowRoyal PlecoRyukin GoldfishSailfin MollySailfin PlecoSand-sifting XenotilapiaShubunkin GoldfishSilver ArowanaSilver MoonyTelescope GoldfishTexas CichlidThreadfin PetrochromisTropheusWolf Cichlid
Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.
Telling males from females
What works for this species, most reliable first.
- Adult sizeA hint only · only across animals of the same age
In many cichlids, catfish and loaches one sex simply grows larger — usually the male, though there are well-known reversals.
Also in these lists
Frequently asked questions
- What tank size does a Upside-down Catfish need?
- A Upside-down Catfish needs an aquarium of at least 110 litres (29.1 US gallons) with a footprint at least 80 cm (31.5 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Upside-down Catfish need?
- Upside-down Catfish does best at 22–28 °C (71.6–82.4 °F), pH 6–7.8 and a general hardness of 5–15 °dGH.
- What group size does a Upside-down Catfish need?
- Upside-down Catfish is a social species — keep a group of at least 3 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.
- Is the Upside-down Catfish suitable for beginners?
- Yes — Upside-down Catfish is one of the easier species to keep and forgives typical first-tank mistakes, as long as the aquarium is cycled and maintained.
Sources
Water & tank
Temperature22–28°C
Optimal temp.24–26°C
pH6–7.8
Hardness (GH)5–15°d
Carbonate (KH)2–12°d
Adult size9.6 cm
Min. volume≥ 110 L
Min. tank length≥ 80 cm
Group size≥ 3
Swimming zoneBottom
TemperamentPeaceful
Water typeFreshwater
FlowModerate
Lifespan~10 yrs
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