Care and Compatibility of Upside-Down Catfish - Synodontis eupterus


Introduction

The Upside-Down Catfish, scientifically known as Synodontis eupterus, is a medium-sized fish with an elongated and laterally compressed body. Its coloration ranges from brown tones to dark gray, with lighter spots on the abdomen. Its fins are long and pointed, giving it an elegant appearance.

Behavior

The Upside-Down Catfish is a freshwater catfish species that is characterized by its peculiar upside-down swimming behavior. It is a peaceful and nocturnal fish commonly found in rivers and lakes of Africa. Although its appearance may be unusual, it is a unique adaptation that allows it to explore and search for food on the water surface.

Sexual Dimorphism

Sexual dimorphism in Synodontis eupterus is minimal and difficult to distinguish. Both males and females have a similar appearance.

Reproduction

Breeding the Upside-Down Catfish can be challenging in captivity. To stimulate reproduction, it is necessary to recreate the proper water conditions and provide them with hiding places and caves where they can spawn. After spawning, the eggs are guarded by the parents and hatch in approximately one week. The fry are relatively large and can be fed with live or crushed foods.

Aquarium Conditions

Synodontis eupterus, commonly known as the featherfin squeaker, requires a spacious aquarium with plenty of swimming space and hiding spots. It prefers neutral to slightly acidic water. Aquarium décor should include driftwood, caves, and refuge areas. Maintaining water quality is crucial and providing a varied diet.

Feeding

This fish is omnivorous and feeds on a variety of foods, including small aquatic invertebrates, insect larvae, algae, and leftover food. It is important to provide them with a balanced diet that includes live foods such as worms and shrimp, as well as dry and vegetable-based foods to ensure their proper development and health.

Complexity

Caring for Synodontis eupterus can be moderately challenging. They are peaceful and active fish that adapt well to a variety of water conditions. However, they are sensitive to water quality and may require frequent maintenance. They are omnivorous and need a balanced diet that includes both plant-based and protein-rich foods.


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To do an analysis more detailed about coexistence and behavior of Synodontis eupterus (Upside-Down Catfish) use the Aquarium simulation tool, if you do this you can test different ways to combine the Upside-Down Catfish with other fishes giving the dimensions and space on you aquarium, on this way you can known the optimal configuration for keep the fishes that you want.

You can also find out the 93 species compatible with the Synodontis eupterus (Upside-Down Catfish) can live together.

Note: The parameters of the water such as PH and temperature are also used to calculate the compatibility of the species.


Compatible species (93)

Compatible (8 Species)

Compatible without any restriction


Black Skirt Tetra - Gymnocorymbus ternetzi

Black Skirt Tetra

Gymnocorymbus ternetzi

Silver Dollar Fish - Metynnis argenteus

Silver Dollar Fish

Metynnis argenteus

Kissing Gourami - Helostoma temminckii

Kissing Gourami

Helostoma temminckii

Harlequin Rasbora - Trigonostigma Heteromorpha

Harlequin Rasbora

Trigonostigma Heteromorpha

Lemon Catfish - Hemiancistrus subviridis

Lemon Catfish

Hemiancistrus subviridis

Stick Catfish - Farlowella acus

Stick Catfish

Farlowella acus

Clown Pleco - Panaqolus maccus

Clown Pleco

Panaqolus maccus

Royal Pleco - Panaque nigrolineatus

Royal Pleco

Panaque nigrolineatus

Similar Sizes (2 Species)

They can coexist if they are the same size or very similar sizes, it does not work in all cases, there may be exceptions.


Paradise Fish - Macropodus Opercularis

Paradise Fish

Macropodus Opercularis

Pictus Catfish - Pimelodus pictus

Pictus Catfish

Pimelodus pictus

With Reservation (45 Species)

Compatible in some cases, it depends on the nature and personality of the fish.


Bala Shark - Balantiocheilus melanopterus

Bala Shark

Balantiocheilus melanopterus

Veil tail Goldfish - Carassius auratus I

Veil tail Goldfish

Carassius auratus I

Telescope goldfish - Carassius auratus II

Telescope goldfish

Carassius auratus II

Pez Loro - Red Parrot

Pez Loro

Red Parrot

Rio Grande cichlid - Herichthys cyanoguttatus

Rio Grande cichlid

Herichthys cyanoguttatus

Midas king fish - Amphilophus citrinellus

Midas king fish

Amphilophus citrinellus

Flowerhorn cichlid - Flowerhorn cichlid

Flowerhorn cichlid

Flowerhorn cichlid

Jack Dempsey Cichlid - Rocio octofasciata

Jack Dempsey Cichlid

Rocio octofasciata

Comet Goldfish - Carassius auratus III

Comet Goldfish

Carassius auratus III

Green Terror - Andinoacara rivulatus

Green Terror

Andinoacara rivulatus

Electric Blue Cichlid - Andinoacara pulcher

Electric Blue Cichlid

Andinoacara pulcher

Severum Cichlid - Heros efasciatus

Severum Cichlid

Heros efasciatus

Celestial eye goldfish - Carassius auratus V

Celestial eye goldfish

Carassius auratus V

Freshwater angelfish - Pterophyllum scalare

Freshwater angelfish

Pterophyllum scalare

Convict Cichlid - Amatitlania nigrofasciata

Convict Cichlid

Amatitlania nigrofasciata

Siamese Algae Eater - Crossocheilus Siamensis

Siamese Algae Eater

Crossocheilus Siamensis

Firemouth Cichlid - Cichlasoma meeki

Firemouth Cichlid

Cichlasoma meeki

Labidochromis caeruleus - Labidochromis caeruleus

Labidochromis caeruleus

Labidochromis caeruleus

Jewel Cichlid - Hemichromis lifalili

Jewel Cichlid

Hemichromis lifalili

Melanochromis auratus - Melanochromis auratus

Melanochromis auratus

Melanochromis auratus

Swordtail fish - Xiphophorus hellerii

Swordtail fish

Xiphophorus hellerii

Pearl gourami - Trichogaster leerii

Pearl gourami

Trichogaster leerii

Johanni Cichlid - Melanochromis johannii

Johanni Cichlid

Melanochromis johannii

Bumblebee Cichlid - Pseudotropheus crabro

Bumblebee Cichlid

Pseudotropheus crabro

Molly fish - Poecilia sphenops

Molly fish

Poecilia sphenops

Cockatoo Cichlid - Apistogramma Cacatuoides

Cockatoo Cichlid

Apistogramma Cacatuoides

Tiger Barb - Puntius tetrazona

Tiger Barb

Puntius tetrazona

Bleeding Heart Tetra - Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma

Bleeding Heart Tetra

Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma

Hatchet Fish - Thoracocharax stellatus

Hatchet Fish

Thoracocharax stellatus

Glassy Perchlet - Parambassis ranga

Glassy Perchlet

Parambassis ranga

Serpae Tetra - Hyphessobrycon Eques

Serpae Tetra

Hyphessobrycon Eques

Emperor Tetra - Nematobrycon Palmeri

Emperor Tetra

Nematobrycon Palmeri

Goldeneye Dwarf Cichlid - Nannacara anomala

Goldeneye Dwarf Cichlid

Nannacara anomala

Ember Tetra - Hyphessobrycon Amandae

Ember Tetra

Hyphessobrycon Amandae

Three lined Pencilfish - Nannostomus Trifasciatus

Three lined Pencilfish

Nannostomus Trifasciatus

Commando Cichlid - Nimbochromis venustus

Commando Cichlid

Nimbochromis venustus

Boeseman's Rainbowfish - Melanotaenia Boesemani

Boeseman's Rainbowfish

Melanotaenia Boesemani

Denison Barb - Puntius denisonii

Denison Barb

Puntius denisonii

Archerfish - Toxotes jaculatrix

Archerfish

Toxotes jaculatrix

Mije Fish - Leporinus fasciatus

Mije Fish

Leporinus fasciatus

Anentome Helena - Anentome helena

Anentome Helena

Anentome helena

IndoPlanorbis Exustus - Planorbis planorbis

IndoPlanorbis Exustus

Planorbis planorbis

Horned Snail - Tyloperlamania sp

Horned Snail

Tyloperlamania sp

Las especies territoriales por lo general pueden convivir con especies protegidas con coraza, ya que no pueden hacerles daño por su dura piel, lo que si hay que tener en cuenta es tener un acuario con dimensiones favorables para que cada pez pueda delimitar un territorio, ya que la mayoría de peces acorazados son también peces de fondo y les gusta estar buscando lugares donde ocultarse.


Spotted Dora Catfish - Agamyxus pectinifrons

Spotted Dora Catfish

Agamyxus pectinifrons

Showdown over territory (19 Species)

Fish can live together as long as the space is spacious enough to delimit a territory, otherwise there may be aggressions for competing for the territory.


Suckermouth catfish - Hypostomus plecostomus

Suckermouth catfish

Hypostomus plecostomus

Sun Catfish - Horabagrus brachysoma

Sun Catfish

Horabagrus brachysoma

Gray bichir - Polypterus senegalus

Gray bichir

Polypterus senegalus

Clown Loach - Chromobotia macracanthus

Clown Loach

Chromobotia macracanthus

Galaxy Plecostomus - Leporacanthicus sp L240

Galaxy Plecostomus

Leporacanthicus sp L240

Striped Raphael Catfish - Platydoras costatus

Striped Raphael Catfish

Platydoras costatus

Tetraodon Nigroviridis - Tetraodon Nigroviridis

Tetraodon Nigroviridis

Tetraodon Nigroviridis

Golden Royal Pleco - Sturisoma aureum

Golden Royal Pleco

Sturisoma aureum

Leopard Cactus Pleco - Hypancistrus Furunculus L199

Leopard Cactus Pleco

Hypancistrus Furunculus L199

Bicolor Shark - Epalzeorhynchos bicolor

Bicolor Shark

Epalzeorhynchos bicolor

Dwarf marbled catfish - Microglanis poecilus

Dwarf marbled catfish

Microglanis poecilus

Neon Spot fish - Pseudotropheus elongatus chewere

Neon Spot fish

Pseudotropheus elongatus chewere

Kribensis Cichlid - Pelvicachromis pulcher

Kribensis Cichlid

Pelvicachromis pulcher

Apple Snail - Pomacea bridgesii

Apple Snail

Pomacea bridgesii

Suckermouth Catfish - Gyrinocheilus Aymonieri

Suckermouth Catfish

Gyrinocheilus Aymonieri

Red-tailed Black Shark - Epalzeorhynchus frenatus

Red-tailed Black Shark

Epalzeorhynchus frenatus

Red Terror Fish - Mesoheros festae

Red Terror Fish

Mesoheros festae

Como a estos peces les gusta estar refugiados en diferentes ubicaciones del acuario ya sean en plantas, troncos, rocas etc, si otro pez intenta entrar donde está escondido podrían haber confrontaciones por ese refugio.


Dragon Violet Goby - Gobioides broussonnetii

Dragon Violet Goby

Gobioides broussonnetii

Considerable size difference (17 Species)

They can coexist while they are similar in size or the size difference is not very abysmal, since as the fish grows it increases the chances of eating its partner that did not grow much.


Common carp - Cyprinus carpio

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

Cherry Barb - Barbus titteya

Cherry Barb

Barbus titteya

Filamented Rainbowfish - Iriatherina Werneri

Filamented Rainbowfish

Iriatherina Werneri

Endler Guppy Fish - Poecilia Wingei

Endler Guppy Fish

Poecilia Wingei

Caridina Shrimp - Caridina cf. Cantonensis

Caridina Shrimp

Caridina cf. Cantonensis

Nerite Snail - Neritina sp

Nerite Snail

Neritina sp

Congo Tetra - Phenacogrammus interruptus

Congo Tetra

Phenacogrammus interruptus

Lacustris Rainbowfish - Melanotaenia lacustris

Lacustris Rainbowfish

Melanotaenia lacustris

Preacox Rainbowfish - Melanotaenia preacox

Preacox Rainbowfish

Melanotaenia preacox

Stiphodon Ornatus - Stiphodon ornatus

Stiphodon Ornatus

Stiphodon ornatus

Red Cherry - Neocaridina davidi

Red Cherry

Neocaridina davidi

Amano Shrimp - Caridina multidentata

Amano Shrimp

Caridina multidentata

Blue Bee Shrimp - Paracaridina sp

Blue Bee Shrimp

Paracaridina sp

Florida Dwarf Crayfish - Cambarellus diminutus

Florida Dwarf Crayfish

Cambarellus diminutus

Red-Backed Tetra - Hyphessobrycon bentosi

Red-Backed Tetra

Hyphessobrycon bentosi

Lemon Tetra - Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis

Lemon Tetra

Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis

Compatible if space is enough (2 Species)

Puede convivir con otros de su especie, siempre y cuando e respete su espacio y cada ejemplar cuente con su propio refugio o territorio.


Upside-Down Catfish - Synodontis eupterus

Upside-Down Catfish

Synodontis eupterus

They can coexist together if the aquarium they share is large and spacious enough for both species to feel good, as some fish may attack others to feel that they have little space and try to eliminate the competition.


Pearl Cichlid - Altolamprologus Calvus

Pearl Cichlid

Altolamprologus Calvus

Upside-Down Catfish

Synodontis eupterus

Upside-Down Catfish - Synodontis eupterus
  • Ph: 6.8 - 7.9
  • Temperature (c°): 23 - 28
  • Measures: 15 cm - 18cm
  • Aquarium Capacity:
    90 Liters - 24 Gallons
  • Behavior: Likes to take refuge, Territorial
  • Size: Medium
  • Swimming area: Aquarium background
  • Water Type: Sweet water