Upside-down catfish
Synodontis nigriventris
- Tank length
- 32 cm13 in
- Start with
- 3
- Temperature
- 22–28 °C72–82 °F
- pH
- 6.4–8.4
- Adult size
- 8 cm3 in
- Lifespan
- 8–15 yrs
Shy and happiest in a small group with overhanging wood or broad leaves to hang under; often swims inverted near the surface at feeding time.Shy and happiest in a small group with overhanging wood or broad leaves to hang under; often swims inverted near the surface at feeding time.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- African pike
African pike may eat Upside down catfishAfrican pike may eat Upside down catfish
- Alligator gar
Alligator gar may eat Upside down catfishAlligator gar may eat Upside down catfish
- Antenna ray
Antenna ray may eat Upside down catfishAntenna ray may eat Upside down catfish
- Arapaima
Arapaima may eat Upside down catfishArapaima may eat Upside down catfish
- Asian arowana
Asian arowana may eat Upside down catfishAsian arowana may eat Upside down catfish
- Atahualpa dwarf cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Australian pearl arowana
Australian pearl arowana may eat Upside down catfishAustralian pearl arowana may eat Upside down catfish
- Barred bichir
Barred bichir may eat Upside down catfishBarred bichir may eat Upside down catfish
- Black bullhead
Black bullhead may eat Upside down catfishBlack bullhead may eat Upside down catfish
- Black diamond cichlid
Black diamond cichlid may eat Upside down catfishBlack diamond cichlid may eat Upside down catfish
- Brown bullhead
Brown bullhead may eat Upside down catfishBrown bullhead may eat Upside down catfish
- Bullseye snakehead
Bullseye snakehead may eat Upside down catfishBullseye snakehead may eat Upside down catfish
Data used by the planner
| Temperature | 22–28 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.4–8.4 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Hardness (dGH) | 1–15 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · low confidence |
| Origin | Central Congo basin, DR Congo | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Beginner friendly | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Care level | easy | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Activity | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Swimming level | middle | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Temperament | peaceful | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Nips fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Long fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Territorial | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lives in groups | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum group | 1 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Diet | omnivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lifespan (years) | 8–15 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Months to adult size | 15 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Safe with plants | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |