Are upside-down catfish Aggressive?

Do upside down catfish kill their predators?

The pectoral and dorsal spines of the Upside Down Catfish can cause serious injury. Despite their peaceful disposition, t hese fish will kill their predators when worst comes to worst. Lauren Chapman, a biology professor at McGill University, conducted an experiment to understand how the upside down fish respond to hypoxia.

Did you know the upside down catfish was once found in Egypt?

Did you know the Upside Down Catfish, also known as Synodontis nigriventris, can be found in Egyptian art and tomb walls dating back four millennia ago? Unfortunately for our dear ancestors, they can only wonder and admire this bizarre-looking fish as they don’t have access to the information you now have.

What is a good tank mate for a catfish?

Fishes of average and large size such as angelfish, discus fish, denison barb will be good tank mates. Don’t keep them with small fishes that they can swallow, since at night catfish will hunt them for sure.

What is the best water for upside down catfish?

Optimal tank water parameters to keep upside-down catfish are the following: water hardness 4-15°, its acidity should vary within pH 6,5-7,5, water temperature 72°F- 78°F (22 to 26 °C). Water filtration, aeration and weekly water renew (1/3 from total tank volume) are also required.

How big should my upside down catfish tank be?

At the end of the day, Upside Down Catfish need as much room to roam as possible. With a 30-gallon tank, you can keep a small group together and even introduce a few tank mates. The aquarium will be big enough to give every fish swimming room without feeling cramped.

What is an upside down fish?

The common name “ upside down fish ” is an umbrella term used by ichthyologists to refer to all Mochokids that swim in an inverted position. Besides the Synodontis nigriventris, the following species may also be known by this common name: Of all seven species, the Synodontis nigriventris is the most popular fish in the hobby.

How do you take care of an upside down catfish?

To increase the odds, secure a consistent, well-curated environment and a high-quality diet for your fish. The Upside Down Catfish survives in the wild by feeding on insect larvae found on the water surface. After skimming the surface for insects, it heads back down to scavenge the bottom for scraps.

What kind of skin does an upside down catfish have?

Besides their unconventional way of breathing and feeding, the Upside Down Catfish have a remarkable dark patch on their bellies. After all, they are called “nigriventris” for a reason. But upon microscopic observation, there are melanophores on both ventral and dorsal skin.

What is a giant upside-down catfish?

The Giant Upside-Down Catfish, scientific name Synodontis batensoda, is a species of fish that is a member of the Mochokidae family of catfish that originate from Africa and are known as squeakers. Adults of this species can grow to be up to 20 inches long and weigh up to 3.3 pounds.

What is the name of the upside down catfish?

Synodontis batensoda = Brachysynodontis batensoda – known as giant upside-down catfish, or squeaker. Found in northern, northeast, and western Africa Synodontis contracta – big-nosed upside-down catfish, sometimes sold as S. nigriventris to aquarists, a species with which it is easily confused

How long do upside down catfish live?

Thanks to their eye-catching behavior, hardy nature, and overall peacefulness, they are sure to be a standout in your fish collection. The average Upside Down Catfish lifespan is about 15 years old! That means this species isn’t for the casual aquarist who isn’t looking for a long-term commitment.

Can fish swim upside down during a water change?

In conclusion, water change, when done wrongly, can invite so many problems that you cannot even imagine. Fish swimming upside down can be a deep-rooted problem that you might have ignored during the water change.

What is the best tank mate for a discus?

Cardinal tetras is the best tank mate for your discus. Cardinal tetras are suitable with warm and acidic water like discus. Cardinal tetras are beautiful and fun to watch. Corydoras catfish are good for aquarium maintenance.

What kind of body does an upside down catfish have?

Similar to other members of the Mochikidae family, the Upside-Down Catfish too have a scaleless body, a big adipose fin, huge eyes, a forked tail, and three barbel pairs. The females have large in comparison to their male counterparts and appear paler in colour.

Are Asian stone catfish good for aquariums?

Asian Stone Catfish are one of the smallest aquarium catfish species you can get. They reach lengths of only 1.3 inches. Thus, all you need is a small 10-gallon tank to keep them healthy. To make things even easier, these catfish are very mellow and inactive. Hailing from India and Bangladesh, these catfish are found in slow-moving streams.

How do you care for an upside down catfish?

Well suited to the aquarium environment, the upside down catfish is easy to care for. Water should be moderately soft and slightly acidic to neutral. Aquarium temperature is not critical. Sensitive to nitrates, good water conditions are necessary.

Why does a catfish have a dark back?

Unlike other fishes who have their back darker than the abdomen (which is necessary to protect the fish from aggression of other fishes or birds), the catfish have darker abdomen and a bit lighter colored back. Such a distinctive feature appeared because almost 90% of its time spends swimming upside-down.

Why do catfish live upside-down?

There’s something else at the surface that’s even more important to a fish’s survival than food: oxygen. The gas essential to life readily dissolves from the air into the water, where it becomes concentrated in a thin layer at the waterline-right where the upside-down catfish’s mouth and gills are perfectly positioned to get it.

Do fish swim upside down or down?

Robert Blake, a biology professor at the University of British Columbia, showed that, for fish, it’s just as efficient to swim upside down as it is to swim right side up. Blake, who died in 2016, found “no significant difference” in the two postures, as long as the fish was far enough below the waterline. But the picture changes near the surface.

Why is my Betta floating at the top of the tank?

Your betta could be floating at the surface of the tank due to a lack of oxygen in the water, or trouble getting oxygen from the surface. It could also be due to swim bladder disease.

What are the upside down catfish adaptations?

The Upside Down Catfish possess a suite of adaptations that increase their survivability and make them tenacious in the face of threats. The Synodontis nigriventris is one of those fish that you can’t help but look at twice. Besides its mind-boggling behavior, the upside-down catfish also exhibits physical features that leave you in awe.

What is a stone catfish?

Stone Catfish ( Hara jerdoni) is a non-aggressive dwarf species of catfish originating in Asia. They are predominantly found in the slow-moving bodies of water in India and Bangladesh. Some common names that Stone Catfish are know by include Asian Stone Catfish, Moth Catfish, and Anchor Catfish.

Why is my betta fish swimming upward?

If your betta fish is swimming upward and spending its time at the top, your tank probably suffers from an oxygen deficiency. Bettas escaping due to a lack of oxygenation might stick their mouths out of the water to get enough oxygen.

Why is my Betta gasping for air?

If your bettas are on the surface of the water to gasp for air, it is because they don’t have enough oxygen in the water. You can rectify this and increase oxygen concentration in your betta tank by adding air stones. What are they?

Do bettas need a filter in their tank?

Those, along with ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate, are really needed for successful fish keeping. If the tank doesn’t have a filter, it needs one as that contains most of the beneficial bacteria after the tank is cycled. Would you mind me asking how big is your betta’s tank?

How did the upside-down catfish adapt to its environment?

“The upside-down catfish seems to have a whole suite of adaptations that make life at the surface more tenable,” said Lauren Chapman, a biology professor at McGill University who has been studying for more than two decades how fish respond to hypoxia in African river systems. An upside-down catfish swims near the waterline. (Josh Cassidy / KQED)

What does it mean when a fish is floating upside down?

If they are floating upside down, have swelled up like a balloon, or even swimming erratically near the top of the water surface, it is an indication of something being wrong. It is called the impaired buoyancy that occurs because their swim bladder isn’t working properly.