🐡 Upside-Down Catfish Synodontis nigriventris

The Upside-Down Catfish (Synodontis nigriventris) is a easy-care, peaceful species from Congo basin. Adults reach roughly 3.5", so plan on a minimum tank of 20 gallons. Keep the water between 72–82°F with a pH of 6–7.5. This is a schooling fish — keep a group of at least 5 so it feels secure and colors up. As an omnivore, it does best on a varied diet appropriate to its feeding style.

At a glance

Good tankmates for Upside-Down Catfish

Neon TetraCardinal TetraRummynose TetraBlack Skirt TetraSerpae TetraGuppyPlatyMollySwordtailDiscusGerman Blue RamBolivian RamApistogrammaKribensisZebra DanioHarlequin RasboraCherry BarbTiger BarbRosy BarbWhite Cloud MinnowDwarf GouramiPearl GouramiThree-Spot GouramiBronze CoryPanda CoryOtocinclusBristlenose PlecoKuhli LoachClown LoachAmano ShrimpMystery SnailBlack Neon TetraLemon TetraGlowlight TetraCongo TetraBloodfin TetraDiamond TetraBuenos Aires TetraEmperor TetraSilver Tip TetraX-Ray TetraScissortail RasboraPearl DanioGiant DanioGold BarbOdessa BarbDenison BarbCheckerboard BarbFive-Banded BarbBoesemani RainbowfishNeon Dwarf RainbowfishMadagascar RainbowfishThreadfin RainbowfishCelebes RainbowfishHoney GouramiSparkling GouramiMoonlight GouramiChocolate GouramiKeyhole CichlidFiremouth CichlidSeverumElectric Blue AcaraBlue AcaraRainbow CichlidSterbai CoryJulii CoryGlass CatfishYoyo LoachZebra LoachDojo LoachHillstream LoachRubber Lip PlecoClown PlecoSiamese Algae EaterRainbow SharkFlying FoxAfrican Butterfly FishGolden Wonder KillifishFancy GoldfishRosy Red MinnowGhost ShrimpBamboo ShrimpRabbit SnailGold TetraPenguin TetraRed Eye TetraFlame TetraBleeding Heart TetraColombian TetraSilver DollarLeopard DanioGold Ring DanioRuby BarbMelon BarbTurquoise RainbowfishForktail Blue-eyeRed RainbowfishSnakeskin GouramiCroaking GouramiThick-Lipped GouramiPeaceful BettaStrawberry BettaGolden RamFlag AcaraGold SeverumFestivum CichlidYellow Dwarf CichlidAgassiz's Dwarf CichlidHongsloi CichlidCheckerboard CichlidEmerald CoryAlbino CoryThree-Striped CoryAdolfo's CoryZebra OtoDwarf Chain LoachHorseface LoachLeopard Frog Pleco (L134)Zebra Pleco (L046)Gold Nugget Pleco (L177)Vampire ShrimpRed Claw CrabLyretail KillifishRed SwordtailHigh-Fin PlatyBalloon MollySailfin MollyAmerican FlagfishIndian Glassfish

Avoid these tankmates

OscarJack DempseyGreen TerrorTexas CichlidFrontosaChinese Algae EaterBlack Ghost KnifefishRopefishSenegal BichirBanjar Red CichlidSalvini CichlidMidas CichlidFlowerhornVenustus CichlidLivingstonii Cichlid

See the full tankmate guide for Upside-Down Catfish →