Upside-Down Catfish

Synodontis nigriventris

Also known as: Blotched upside-down catfish, Upside down catfish, Synodontis

Water Parameters

• Temperature: 22–28°C
• pH: 6–7.5
• Hardness (GH): 71–215 ppm (4–12 dGH)

Values above are general hardness (GH). For carbonate hardness (KH), the buffer that keeps pH stable, see the water parameters guide.

Care Summary

A small, sociable, and genuinely odd African catfish, the upside-down catfish does exactly what its name says, spending much of its life swimming inverted, belly up, a habit that lets it graze food and biofilm from the undersides of leaves and wood in the wild. Reaching around 8 to 10cm, it is a peaceful, nocturnal, shoaling Synodontis from the Congo basin that should be kept in a group of six or more, with caves and bogwood to rest under by day and soft, warm water from 22 to 28 degrees. A common pitfall is identity: fish sold as upside-down catfish are sometimes young Synodontis eupterus, which grow far larger, so check before you buy. Given a group, hiding places, and a varied omnivorous diet, it is a hardy, long-lived, and charming oddball for a peaceful community.

Tankmates

A peaceful, nocturnal, shoaling catfish for a community of soft-water, similarly-sized fish such as congo tetras, rainbowfish, peaceful cichlids like kribensis and keyholes, gouramis, and other calm species. Keep a group of at least six, as it is social and hides when kept alone, and provide caves and bogwood for daytime shelter. Avoid large or aggressive cichlids and persistent fin-nippers. Check the identity on purchase, as larger Synodontis such as eupterus are often sold under the same name.

Compatible with

• Congo Tetra
• Boeseman's Rainbowfish
• Pearl Gourami
• Kribensis
• Angelfish
• Bristlenose Pleco
• Harlequin Rasbora
• Keyhole Cichlid

Avoid keeping with

• Large Cichlids
• Aggressive Tankmates
• Fin Nippers

Common Problems

• being mis-sold as a juvenile of much larger Synodontis species such as eupterus
• hiding and stress when kept singly rather than in a group
• being kept too cool, as it prefers the warmer end of its range
• ich

Sources: planetcatfish.com, seriouslyfish.com · Last updated: 2026-10-13