Species Profile
Upside-Down Catfish
Synodontis nigriventris
Catfishpeaceful
Adult size
4″
Minimum tank
30 gal
Temperature
72–79°F
pH
6–7.5
Schooling
Group of 4+
Water level
top
Diet
Sinking pellets, frozen, flake
Notes
Truly swims upside-down at the surface, feeding on floating food from below. Body coloration is reversed (dark belly, light back) to match the inverted orientation. Group of 4+ for natural behavior.
Compatible Tankmates
Best tank mates for Upside-Down Catfish
Every species below passes the compatibility engine when paired with Upside-Down Catfishin a suitably sized tank. Verdicts come from the same rules the builder uses — click a card to see that species' own care profile and its tank mates in turn.
Cardinal Tetra
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Rummynose Tetra
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Harlequin Rasbora
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Zebra Danio
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Fancy Guppy
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Platy
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Molly
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Dwarf Gourami
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Honey Gourami
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Bolivian Ram
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Otocinclus
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Bristlenose Pleco
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Photo: en:User:Neale Monks / Wikimedia Commons · Source · CC-BY-SA-3.0