Upside down catfish care

Water temperature

72–79°F

Keep upside down catfish at 72–79°F with a pH of 6–7.5, in a tank of at least 30 gallons. Good tank mates include bettas, angelfish, tiger barbs.

Peaceful oddball that swims belly-up under leaves and wood.

Synodontis nigriventris

pH

6–7.5

Minimum tank

30 gal

Adult size

4.0 in

Temperament

Peaceful

Group

Groups of 3+

Lifespan

10–15 years

Swims at

Bottom

Diet

Omnivore

Best tank mates

• BettaYes
• AngelfishYes
• Tiger barbYes
• GuppyYes
• Honey gouramiYes
• Paradise fishYes
• Neon tetraYes
• Blue gouramiYes
• CorydorasYes
• Odessa barbYes
• Black skirt tetraYes
• Congo tetraYes

Full upside down catfish tank mate chart: 68 yes, 14 with care, 16 no

Upside down catfish water compared

Fish to keep away from upside down catfish

• Axolotl Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); upside down catfish need 72–79°F. No temperature suits both.
• Oscar An adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 4 inches upside down catfish do.
• Goldfish Goldfish are coldwater animals (60–74°F); upside down catfish need 72–79°F. They overlap only at 72–74°F, the edge of both ranges.
• Jack Dempsey An adult jack dempsey eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 4 inches upside down catfish do.
• Cherry shrimp An upside down catfish is big enough to swallow adult cherry shrimp.
• Bichir An adult bichir eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 4 inches upside down catfish do.
• Black ghost knife An adult black ghost knife eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 4 inches upside down catfish do.
• Convict cichlid Convict cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful upside down catfish.

More catfish and plecos

• Corydoras72–79°F
• Bristlenose pleco73–81°F
• Pictus catfish72–79°F
• Otocinclus72–79°F
• Panda cory68–77°F
• Common pleco72–86°F
• Glass catfish75–80°F
• Zebra pleco79–88°F