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Hey everyone thatks for reading,
I have been reading about the UpSide down Castfish and they realld look interesting to me.
I have a 48G with 10Serpea Tetras, 1 Dwarf Gourami, 5 Corys, 3 ottos and 2 Key holes.

I hear they like to be in groups of 2-3 so what can I do? Will this set up work, will 1 go good alone and any tips you may have will help thanks.

10gallon: 8neons 5gallon: 1betta
1oto
2platys

Step 1 : Check your species. Make sure that the Synodontis you choose is one of the small ones, ideally nigriventris, and ensure that the provenance of the fish is verified by someone knowledgeable beforehand. Last thing you want to do is buy two or three cute looking baby Synodontis, only to discover the hard way that you've picked up a juggernaut such as synodontis acanthomias, which will hit 12 inches in an aquarium with ease and devour the other inmates before it reaches that stage!

Step 2 : Furnishings. Synodontis like shade and shelter. Make sure that you have caves in abundance for them to inhabit before you purchase them. Tangles of bogwood roots and crazy arrangements of silicone cemented rocks with lots of caves and cave like structures will keep your Synodontis happy. They also appreciate it if you provide some floating plants in at least one part of the aquarium to shade them from the full glare of the lights. Give them this, and they'll be happy, and consequently more likely to show their faces and display their upside down swimming!

Step 3 : Companions. Small Synodontis species appear to be a little more sociable than some of the bigger ones. So the chances are you could integrate a trio of nigriventris in there. Just make sure that there's a BIG surplus of caves, because you already have 5 Corys in there, and they'll want to hang out in some of the caves too! If they have surplus real estate, then you can integrate the smaller Synos and Corys, but it can be something of a balancing act. Bigger Synos, on the other hand (and I'm thinking here of fishes such as angelicus or nigromaculatus which are show fishes for 100 gallon aquaria) are much less sociable, and some species can be as territorial as Cichlids - again, the juggernaut acanthomias springs to mind as a Syno that not only demands 150 gallons or more, but will actually pick fights with Oscars over cave space!

So, LOTS of caves (especially if you're keeping the Corys in the same aquarium), shady areas, and careful selection of species are the order of the day. Make sure you obtain true nigriventris or one of the rarer small species such as Microsynodontis batesii, and avoid bruisers such as notatus, schall or the dreaded tank busting and highly predatory acanthomias!


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

They are great fish, and fun to watch! As long as they have places to hide they will be fine.Don't be amazed though if they are hiding most of the day because they are shy.

-Vincent

Well this is what I am looking for http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/profiles/605.htm

I think I may need more caves, I have 1 really big cave ans some drift wood that has hiding space under it, So ill get something like a skull aor boat...Thanks, this wont be overstocked???

Also how often should I do water changes, I do 30-50% every 2-3weeks.

10gallon: 8neons 5gallon: 1betta
1oto
2platys

In reference to water changes it is highly recommended to do a 30% mimium weekly water changes.

Filters depending on its size and type. My Eheim Pro11 canister is done monthly and the small internal Eheim in the Beta tank is done weekly.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

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With decent filtraton on your aquarium and regular water changes/gravel vacs, you shouldn't have a problem with 3 nigriventris.

As for your caves, best solution is to find small pieces of bogwood and glue them together with silicone or aquarium safe epoxy resin to form your intricate cave structure as this will replicate the kind of feature that the fishes live amongst in the wild. Although at a push, several bits of plastic pipe will suffice if there's nothing else to hand and you don't mind the aquarium looking as if it's been subject to illegal fly tipping!


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

I was a little freaked out the first time I saw the Upside Down Catfish.. I thought my boyfriend brought home a bunch of dead fish. Once I got used to them though, they are great. So much fun to watch.. Especially when you have other Catfish. In my tank, I have Schwartzie Cats and Aeneus Cats... I think that has a lot to do with why I get such a kick out of seeing his Upside down Catfish.

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