Upside Down Catfish

[Bloopie]

Hello.

I have 1 upside down catfish in my 30 gallon tank together with 1 Albino Greshakei cichlid and 1 Jewel cichlid.
The cichlids and catfish get along very well, noone seems to mind one another, and I made sure there are a lot of places for them to hide. The problem is, the Catfish does hide pretty much all of the time (except feeding time, then he's all over the place). I read that one reason for this would be that it is nocturnal, and the other is that he should look better in a group.

So I'm wondering, would adding 2 or 3 more catfish make them swim happily around the tank or will they just join him in hiding all the time (or atleast until I fall asleep)?

Thanks

 

[CFC]

The first thing to establish is which "upside down catfish" do you have? Upside down catfish can be a catch all species name given to catfishes of the Synodontis species by fish stores who don't know which species it actually is and can't be bothered to find out. It is also the long established common name of Synodontis nigriventris, a small schooling Synodontis catfish which lives a truely inverted lifestyle swimming and feeding upside down for 90% of its time.

If your fish is the latter (S.nigriventris) then yes you should add more USD cats of the same species as they are schooling fish and would be much happier kept in a group, if your fish is another species of Synodontis then you will have to research further as many species from this genus are territorial and aggressive to their own kind.

 

[Bloopie]

The first thing to establish is which "upside down catfish" do you have? Upside down catfish can be a catch all species name given to catfishes of the Synodontis species by fish stores who don't know which species it actually is and can't be bothered to find out. It is also the long established common name of Synodontis nigriventris, a small schooling Synodontis catfish which lives a truely inverted lifestyle swimming and feeding upside down for 90% of its time.

If your fish is the latter (S.nigriventris) then yes you should add more USD cats of the same species as they are schooling fish and would be much happier kept in a group, if your fish is another species of Synodontis then you will have to research further as many species from this genus are territorial and aggressive to their own kind.

Well I'll try to take a picture but right off the bat I can tell you that at my LFS I see them crowding the glass together, doesn't look like they are aggressive at all. I just don't know how I'm going to be able to catch this guy in a picture

 

[CFC]

Does it look like this http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/mocho...odont/334_f.php

or this http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/mocho...odont/121_f.php

or this http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/mocho...nodont/89_f.php

or any of these http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/mochokid/g_29.php

 

[kimbowee]

http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/mocho...odont/334_f.php

Here is a link to planetcatfish.com. Has a ton of info. When you see it swim does it mostly swim upside down?

I have 3 Synodontis Nigriventis in my 33 gal tank. They are out alot more since I added 2 more friends. They are now out most of the evening zipping around the tank together. I had a single Upside down cat in there for about a month and almost never saw him. At one time I thought he must have gotten out of the tank somehow. He was hiding inside an ornament for almost a week. I have since removed the ornament and added a large piece of driftwood. They now all sleep together on the underside of the driftwood.

I know what you mean about getting the pic. When they are awake, they are always swimming around & just show up as a brown blur,when sleeping they blend in with the wood. I have been trying to get a pic for about a month but so far I don't have one where you can actually make out whats in it.

Good luck, hope it helps!

 

[Bloopie]

Well I can say for sure that it isn't Synodontis nigrita.
I can't really find it on these pics so I'm gonna have to take a picture but hey I just really thought about it and reached the conclusion that I've never actually seen the catfish swim upside down.
He is on the gravel all the time, never swims around the tank, although one time I came into my house, turned on the lights and saw it on the glass, but then it quickly returned to its cave.

 

[Bloopie]

[img=http/img306.imageshack.us/img306/9540/catfish8fs.th.jpg]

Well I got it! this is my catfish. So what's the verdict?

 

[CFC]

Your fish is a Synodontis eupterus, a solitary living nocturnal species which grows to around 8 inches.

 

[Bloopie]

Your fish is a Synodontis eupterus, a solitary living nocturnal species which grows to around 8 inches.

Anything I should know about it?
Does this mean no other catfish allowed?

Thanks

 

[CFC]

Info here http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/mocho...odont/121_f.php

Due to the size of your tank i would advise that this is the only catfish in the tank as they are territorial and will fight with fish they think are invading their territory.

 

[Bloopie]

Info here http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/mocho...odont/121_f.php

Due to the size of your tank i would advise that this is the only catfish in the tank as they are territorial and will fight with fish they think are invading their territory.

Site says: "Peaceful. Can be kept singly or in groups given adequate refuge for each individual. A large multi-branched piece of bogwood is ideal."

You think adding one more would be disastrous?

 

[CFC]

Peaceful. Can be kept singly or in groups given adequate refuge for each individual. A large multi-branched piece of bogwood is ideal."

The problem is your 30g tank doesnt allow for adequate refuge for multiple 6 to 8 inch catfish but you could try it and see howit goes.

 

[kimbowee]

CFC, how can you tell the difference? What did you look at to tell? Just wondering. The 2 species almost look identical to me. Of course, I am not sure what to look for either. )

I want to go examine mine now but they are hiding under their piece of wood. They are little lighter in color and their dorsal & mid back fin(sorry, not sure what its called) look shorter but its hard to tell because of where they are at right now. I want to make sure I don't have the wrong ones now. They were marked as S. Nigriventis but I know how much that is worth.

Thanks!!

 

[CFC]

Juvinile S.eupterus have a squiggly pattern (which gives them another common name of Network catfish) where as S.nigriventris has spots, the patterning on the S.eupterus changes to spots as it grows but they will be bigger than S.nigriventris by the time this happens. Also S.eupterus has a feathered edge to its dorsal fin (giving it another common name of featherfin catfish ) where as S.nigriventris doesnt.

 

[kimbowee]

Thanks bunches CFC!

I think I am safe. All 3 of mine have a flatter edge to their dorsal fins, not feathery. They are between 2.5" & 3" and all 3 have spots.

I can see the difference now that I know what to look for. Thanks again!