Upside Down Catfish Question

[123]

I've been trying to research upside down catfish, and have found varying statements on how large they can grow to be. Does anyone have one of these, and how big did it get?

 

[Helena21]

i have an upside-down catfish. Mine is about 2 inches, but on the internet it says there maximum body length is 3 and a half to 4 inches.

 

[NoDeltaH2O]

Well, there are many different kinds of upside downs. I have two that are no larger than corydoras, and have had them for a couple years now. I also have a rather large stnodontis euruptus, and it is about 6 inches long,a dn grw quite quickly, outgrowing all of his tank mates, necessitating a new home for him. Make sure you know what you are buying or you'll have a monster in your tank.

 

[123]

OK
Which ones are the ones that stay small?
And how can one identify them from the ones that grow large?

 

[bala_aquarium]

NoDeltaH2O
are you sure theres different types,i might be a little late on this thread but ive never heard of dif types

 

[wayne]

Yes, there re several types of synodontis, and there's also an indian catfish that does it.
Start here ...http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/mochokid/synodont/334_F.PHP

Also look at the genus thumbnails linked to this link, especially S. nigrita: Fortunately nigriventis is likely to be correctly id'ed, but you never know

 

[bala_aquarium]

wow ill have to see what i bough then

 

[straitjacket]

There are several Mochokiids that are known as "upside down catfish". The most popular and familiar one would be Synodontis nigriventris. They max out at 4" but don't always even get that big.
There is also an Asian upside-down catfish, Mystus leucophasis, which can reach a foot in length.

 

[UP UP AND GUPPY]

Do they need to shoal?

 

[straitjacket]

Syno. nigriventris, yes, do seem to feel more comfortable in higher numbers. Since they get no bigger than a large Brochis ("cory") I'd say a shoal of 5 or 6 would be quite easy to accomidate.