{"product_id":"upside-down-catfish-synodontis-nigriventris","title":"Upside Down Catfish | Synodontis nigriventris","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Upside-Down Catfish is one of the aquarium world's genuine oddities - a bottom-dwelling catfish that spends most of its life swimming belly-up. Native to the slow, leaf-littered backwaters of the Congo Basin, it grazes algae and insect larvae from the underside of leaves, wood and even the water's surface. Peaceful, quirky and endlessly watchable, it's a fantastic conversation piece for a community tank.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFound throughout the Congo River basin in Central Africa, inhabiting slow-moving, heavily vegetated stretches of river with submerged wood, overhanging leaf litter and plenty of shaded cover.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA small, slender Synodontis catfish with the classic mottled brown-and-cream camouflage pattern typical of the genus, three pairs of barbels around the mouth, and a noticeably darker belly - the reverse of most fish, a giveaway that this one spends its life upside down.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePeaceful and largely nocturnal\/crepuscular, becoming much bolder and more active in small groups. Shy when kept alone, so aim for at least three to five individuals if you can. Mixes well with other calm community fish and won't bother tankmates.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn easygoing omnivore. Offer sinking pellets or wafers, blanched vegetables like zucchini or cucumber, and occasional live or frozen foods such as bloodworm or daphnia. It will also happily graze algae and biofilm off leaves and wood.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA minimum of 75 litres suits a small group, with 100-120 litres or more recommended for a proper shoal. Provide plenty of broad-leaved plants, driftwood and overhangs to mimic its natural cover - it loves resting upside down under a leaf or piece of wood. Keep water soft to neutral and avoid strong currents.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRarely bred in the home aquarium. Spawning has been recorded in very large, mature setups but requires specific conditions that are difficult to replicate at home; most fish in the trade are wild-caught or farm-raised overseas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSynodontis nigriventris\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUpside-Down Catfish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCongo River Basin, Central Africa\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUp to 9.5cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5-10 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful, nocturnal\/crepuscular, best in groups\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBeginner\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e75 litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e100-120 litres for a small group\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOmnivore - sinking pellets, vegetables, algae, occasional live\/frozen foods\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e23-26°C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6.0-7.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5-15 dGH (soft to moderately hard)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful community tanks\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYes - grazes algae without damaging healthy plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTetras, rasboras, other Synodontis and Corydoras, peaceful barbs, gouramis and dwarf cichlids.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLarge or aggressive fish that may bully or outcompete it for food, and boisterous fin-nippers that could stress a naturally shy species.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232799375651,"sku":"AA3077","price":39.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232799408419,"sku":"AA3077-M","price":44.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/Upside_Down_Catfish_36bb6693-d3f8-4815-8236-987f257d64bc.jpg?v=1781701110","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/upside-down-catfish-synodontis-nigriventris","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}