{"product_id":"upside-down-catfish-synodontis-nigriventris","title":"Upside Down Catfish (Synodontis nigriventris) 2-3cm Aquarium Glaser","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUpside Down Catfish\u003c\/strong\u003e is one of the most distinctive and entertaining African freshwater fishes in the hobby. Its habit of \u003cstrong\u003eswimming and resting belly‑up\u003c\/strong\u003e is completely natural and is an evolutionary adaptation for feeding and camouflage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eIdentification \u0026amp; Classification\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eScientific name:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eSynodontis nigriventris\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCommon names:\u003c\/strong\u003e Upside‑Down Catfish, Blotched Upside‑Down Catfish\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFamily:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mochokidae (African upside‑down catfishes)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDescribed by:\u003c\/strong\u003e David, 1936\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eConservation status:\u003c\/strong\u003e Least Concern \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe species name \u003cem\u003enigriventris\u003c\/em\u003e means \u003cstrong\u003e“black belly,”\u003c\/strong\u003e referring to its reversed coloration—darker underside and lighter back—which provides camouflage when swimming upside down. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eNatural Distribution \u0026amp; Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRange:\u003c\/strong\u003e Central Africa\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRiver systems:\u003c\/strong\u003e Congo Basin (Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cameroon) \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHabitat:\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSlow‑moving rivers and backwaters\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDensely vegetated margins\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSubmerged roots, branches, and leaf litter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDimly lit, tannin‑rich water\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese shaded environments explain the fish’s \u003cstrong\u003elarge eyes\u003c\/strong\u003e and preference for low light in aquariums. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAppearance \u0026amp; Behavior\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAdult size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 8–10 cm (3–4 in)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBody:\u003c\/strong\u003e Compact, slightly laterally compressed\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBarbels:\u003c\/strong\u003e Three pairs (typical of \u003cem\u003eSynodontis\u003c\/em\u003e)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eColor pattern:\u003c\/strong\u003e Light brown to gray with dark blotches\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSignature trait:\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSwims and rests upside down\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFeeds from the underside of leaves, wood, and the water’s surface\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey are \u003cstrong\u003enocturnal to crepuscular\u003c\/strong\u003e, becoming more active at dusk and nighttime, though well‑settled specimens often appear during the day. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAquarium Care Overview\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDifficulty:\u003c\/strong\u003e Easy → Moderate\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTemperament:\u003c\/strong\u003e Peaceful\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBest kept:\u003c\/strong\u003e Small groups\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTank Requirements\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMinimum tank size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 75 L \/ 20 gal (larger preferred for groups)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIdeal group size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 3–6 individuals (more confident and active in groups) \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDécor:\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDriftwood and branches (critical)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCaves and crevices\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBroad‑leaf plants and floating plants\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLighting:\u003c\/strong\u003e Low to moderate\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlow:\u003c\/strong\u003e Gentle to moderate\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProvide overhead structure—they spend a lot of time browsing \u003cstrong\u003eunder\u003c\/strong\u003e objects.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWater Parameters\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eParameter\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRecommended\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e22–28 °C (72–82 °F)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6.0–7.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHardness\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoft to medium (≈4–15 dGH)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Type\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFreshwater\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStable conditions are more important than chasing exact numbers. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eDiet\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOmnivorous, easy to feed\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eQuality sinking pellets or wafers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFrozen foods (bloodworms, brine shrimp)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLive foods (insects, larvae)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOccasional vegetable matter (blanched peas, algae wafers)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey frequently feed \u003cstrong\u003enear the surface while inverted\u003c\/strong\u003e, so floating or slow‑sinking foods are useful. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eTankmates\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExcellent community fish when matched correctly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGood tankmates:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTetras\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRasboras\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGouramis\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCorydoras\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePeaceful African cichlids of appropriate size\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAvoid:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAggressive or fin‑nipping fish\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLarge predatory species\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFish small enough to be eaten during nocturnal activity\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey are peaceful even with their own kind when kept in adequate space. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBreeding Notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEgg‑layer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRare but recorded in captivity\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEggs laid in pits or protected areas\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFry swim upright at first; the upside‑down posture develops after several weeks \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e Lifespan\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e8–15 years\u003c\/strong\u003e in well‑maintained aquariums \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aquarium Glaser","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47740900213054,"sku":"400000022352","price":24.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0837\/5104\/3390\/products\/Upside-Down-Catfish----Synodontis-nigriventris-1.jpg?v=1698983473","url":"https:\/\/yourlocalfishstore.com\/products\/upside-down-catfish-synodontis-nigriventris","provider":"Your Local Fish Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}