Zebra Upside Down Catfish

The upside-down catfish (Synodontis nigriventris) is a small catfish with the unique habit of swimming and resting upside-down. These fish spend upwards of 90% of their time in the inverted position and have a reverse colour scheme to most fish – with their belly being darker than the dorsal area. This is to help them camouflage from predators as their belly is exposed to the surface of the water when they hunt insects.

And while many people purchase upside-down catfish for their strange swimming habits, their small size and peaceful nature also make them an ideal choice for community aquariums. In fact, they are a favorite with people who prefer oddball fish in a community setting.

blotched upside-down catfish because of its spotted appearance. They are an extremely popular species that have been admired for countless centuries; their images have even been found in ancient Egyptian art.

• Species – Synodontis Nigriventris “Zebra”
• Common Name – Upside-down Catfish
• Origin – Central Africa
• Diet – Omnivore
• PH Range – 7.5 – 8.5
• Temperature – Tropical 24°c – 29°c
• Breed Type – Egg Layer but very difficult to breed in the aquarium
• Current Size – approximately 4-5cm (Grows to approximately 20cm)
• Sex – Un-sexed