Upside-down Catfish

About

Catfish is a broad label, but when dealers stock this one, it often comes with an even more misleading tag: 'upside-down catfish.' That name belongs to Synodontis nigriventris, a much smaller cousin. Synodontis nigrita does occasionally rest inverted, but it is not a true inversion specialist, and at nearly a foot long as an adult, it is a very different fish to bring home on impulse. The number of adult specimens returned to shops tells that story pretty clearly. Coloration is grey-based with a spotted or mottled pattern, which can cause confusion with the smaller and browner Synodontis robbianus, particularly in juveniles when many Synos look alike. In the wild, this species ranges across a wide swath of West and Central African river systems, from the Senegal and Gambia basins east through the Niger and Chad drainages, typically associating with seasonal floodplains. In the aquarium it spends much of its time tucked into cover, emerging mainly at feeding time. Temperament leans territorial as it matures, particularly toward other Synodontis, so each fish needs its own refuge. It is not a good fit for a general community, but it can coexist with robust tankmates like West African cichlids, larger tetras, or mormyrids. A rewarding fish for an intermediate keeper who goes in with eyes open about its eventual size.