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i have a upside down catfish in a tank with
5 neons
5 rambosas (or what ever the spelling is)
1 dwarf gourmi
2 frogs
5 glowlings
2 mystery snails
and one small alge eater
all in a 28 gallon

he lives hiding between this one rock and the glass u can see him all the time but he never comes out
is it true that if i add another they will be more active and come out more,
plus can i fit that into my tank?

From my own personal experience I've found that not to be true. I have 4 in my 55 gallon tank and they mostly spend all the time during the day in a large cave I have in the tank, very rarely if ever coming out. Usually at night a little while after I've turned the lights off I can see them out scavenging around the bottom.

I have a Synodontis eupterus (fether fin) and he normaly stays some what hid through out the day. Once night time comes he seaches the tank for left overs and the shrimp pellets and waffers I feed him. It might just be that he doesn't like your lights being they might be too bright or try changing your hiding spaces for him so he is more visible.

I made my self a moon light so I could watch him at night.
http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/Technical%20Tinkering/59040.html?200505131122

I don't know if it is really best to keep them in groups or not. Mine hangs with my pleco at night most of the time so maybe a groupie might help.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Another possibility, if you have bright lights, is get some floating plants to provide your UDC with shade. Then he may be more forthcoming and more bold. Too intense a light will probably induce more shyness during the 'daytime' part of your aquarium's operations. Also, if the UDC only has one or two caves to choose from as hiding places, that may be a factor too. Synodontis of all species tend to like complex bogwood root tangles that they can play in, under shade: basically the more complex your underwater grotto furnishings, the happier your Synodontis will be. Especially if you also provide areas that are shaded, ideally with floating plants of some kind. Provide furnishings of this kind and your UDC may well start becoming a LOT bolder.

Oh, and a big helping of live Bloodworms just before 'lights out' on a regular basis will also help embolden your Synodontis.


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

i dont see mine much ether.when its time for lights out.i see him a fair bit.him and my bristlenose make a great team,scavenging around.