Upside down catfish is a Community Tank

Hi James0816- yours are true nigriventris. Beasts picked up Callichthys in my signature, which is an armoured South American cat and not related to upside-downs at all...
 
James 0816,
I seem to recall my Synodontis looking much like the one you have pictured. Unless my memory is faulty you have a surprise in store as they grow up. Mine look much different now, more than a year later. Possibly Carp37 would have some thoughts?
Beasts
 
Hi Friends !

Is it advicable and ok to keep a few Upside Down Catfishes in a Community setup, i.e with smaller fishes like Cardinal tetras, Corys, Clown Plecos, Shrimps etc ?

Kindly advice.
Thanks and Regards
Kush

I had one of these - they need to be kept in groups to feel secure. He was brought to my house when I traded fish with someone online. I didn't know he was going to be part of the package. He spent all of his time hiding under the filter. I set up a cave at the front of the tank so I could see him and he'd go in there. They're nocturnal. I don't know if I'd have seen him more if I'd have kept a group. Very gentle. My little guy was very pudgy and did spend all of his time upside down. He's now living in my sister's tank. If I'd of kept him I'd have gotten him some friends. Put a cave right at the front of the tank that will fit them all if you want to see them.
 
Carp37,

Also, you have me wondering whether my nigriventris are actually named properly as they are already 6 to 7 inches long and only just over a year old. At this point I would be worried about cardinals in with them when the lights are out as well as the shrimp. ???
Beasts

True nigriventris only get to about 10 cm (3.9") standard length (without the caudal fin), and don't usually even get that big; I bet you've got eupterus (featherfin syno) or something similar. I got one of these 8 months ago and it's grown from 2.5" to 5.5", and is the shape of a marker buoy when it's been on a feeding binge; featherfins also prefer to rest upside down but they should be easy to identify at over 4" because of the dorsal fin extensions. Whilst they're still shy to an extent they're much more boisterous than upside downs- mine even stands up to my cichlids. There are a few other dark synos but most of them don't swim upside down much. There are also lots of czech hybrids around at the moment, which makes identification even more of a headache- if in doubt post a picture on Planet Catfish and one of the syno experts should be able to identify them.

As leighasnana says, nigriventris do far better in groups, whereas the larger synos are territorial and require lots of space and hiding places to be kept together.
 
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