Upside Down Catfish

This peaceful catfish is an interesting addition to community aquariums when kept with appropriately sized tank mates. It can spend considerable time exploring the aquarium, particularly around plants, rocks, driftwood, and other structures that provide shelter.

The Upside Down Catfish is best maintained in a well-filtered, mature aquarium with stable water conditions. Providing hiding places and a suitable substrate can help create a comfortable environment. A varied, nutritious diet designed for freshwater catfish can support healthy growth and activity.

• Temperature: 72°F – 82°F (22°C – 28°C)

• pH Level: 6.0 – 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)

• Water Hardness: 4 – 15 dGH (soft to moderately hard)

• Ammonia & Nitrite: 0 ppm at all times

• Nitrate: Kept under 20 ppm with routine partial water changes

• Sinking Pellets and Wafers: Use high-quality sinking catfish pellets, granules, or algae wafers as the base nutrition. These ensure the food reaches the bottom or the underside of surfaces where they prefer to feed. Avoid floating foods, as these fish feed upside-down at the surface or bottom rather than gulping air.

• Frozen or Live Foods: Feed protein-rich treats like bloodworms, brine shrimp, daphnia, or mosquito larvae 2 to 3 times a week.

Key Features

• Famous for its distinctive upside-down swimming behavior
• Attractive spotted and patterned body
• Prominent barbels around the mouth
• Interesting bottom-dwelling freshwater catfish
• Suitable for appropriately planned community aquariums
• Enjoys hiding places, plants, rocks and driftwood
• Peaceful nature when housed with compatible tank mates