Upsidedown Catfish With Huge Belly -Advice Needed

[fishnovice]

just noticed that my upsidedown catfish has a very big round belly which wasn't there before. No sign of dropsy or any illness and it's swimming actively and feeding well.Maybe it's just overeating.... or could it be a female with eggs?
1.How do you tell sexes apart in synodontis?
2.S/he is the only syno in tank. Will she become eggbound (if it's a she)?
3.I have 2 other probably crossbred synos in another tank, very similar in colour, sizse and shape but their dorsal fins are less "ragged" - one even swims upsidedorn most of the time. Don't know their sex but still slim. Should I put fat one in their tank for breeding or will they attack her?

 

[Inchworm]

Hi fishnovice

I'm going to move your thread to the catfish section. You might attract some good advice there.

 

[moochy13]

one of mine used to have a massive belly. i dont know if its coincidence or not, but since i moved him to a bigger tank his belly has vanished.

 

[Bazza57]

just noticed that my upsidedown catfish has a very big round belly which wasn't there before. No sign of dropsy or any illness and it's swimming actively and feeding well.Maybe it's just overeating.... or could it be a female with eggs?
1.How do you tell sexes apart in synodontis?
2.S/he is the only syno in tank. Will she become eggbound (if it's a she)?
3.I have 2 other probably crossbred synos in another tank, very similar in colour, sizse and shape but their dorsal fins are less "ragged" - one even swims upsidedorn most of the time. Don't know their sex but still slim. Should I put fat one in their tank for breeding or will they attack her?

Hi, you do not say which type of upside down catfish you've got. Is it a Brachysynodontis batonsoda or the smaller synodontis nigriventris.

Either way, with most syno's the way to sex them is by observing the ventral area: females have a slightly raised circular area, whereas males have a small "tag" it is more noticeable in some species than others - check out planet catfish or scotcat for advice.

The swelling could be that the fish is slightly eggbound, or more likely constipated/ or has a blockage. Achange in diet may solve this problem.
I had a Brachysynodontis Batonsoda for over 23 years, it grew to 8" it was a very gentle fish which could be kept with much smaller fish without problems, over the years it was occassionally "off colour" where it would go very pale for a day or two. It would soon return back to its normall healthy dark colouration. Good luck with yours

 

[fishnovice]

just noticed that my upsidedown catfish has a very big round belly which wasn't there before. No sign of dropsy or any illness and it's swimming actively and feeding well.Maybe it's just overeating.... or could it be a female with eggs?
1.How do you tell sexes apart in synodontis?
2.S/he is the only syno in tank. Will she become eggbound (if it's a she)?
3.I have 2 other probably crossbred synos in another tank, very similar in colour, sizse and shape but their dorsal fins are less "ragged" - one even swims upsidedorn most of the time. Don't know their sex but still slim. Should I put fat one in their tank for breeding or will they attack her?

Hi, you do not say which type of upside down catfish you've got. Is it a Brachysynodontis batonsoda or the smaller synodontis nigriventris.

Either way, with most syno's the way to sex them is by observing the ventral area: females have a slightly raised circular area, whereas males have a small "tag" it is more noticeable in some species than others - check out planet catfish or scotcat for advice.

The swelling could be that the fish is slightly eggbound, or more likely constipated/ or has a blockage. Achange in diet may solve this problem.
I had a Brachysynodontis Batonsoda for over 23 years, it grew to 8" it was a very gentle fish which could be kept with much smaller fish without problems, over the years it was occassionally "off colour" where it would go very pale for a day or two. It would soon return back to its normall healthy dark colouration. Good luck with yours

I was told it was an upsidedown cat when I got it but it looks more like a featherfin and never swims upsidedown. At the moment it's still fat but otherwise Ok. I've rarely seen it eat but I feed the tank it lives in as a whole flake, courgette JMC pellets daily and occasional bloodworm. Not sure which of these, possibly all, the syno eats.
What change of diet would you recommend?

 

[Bazza57]

Sounds like it's a Synodontis Nigriventris then. It may well be a female as they are more "rounded" than the males. Less colourful though, dark spots over a light brown base. The brachysynodontis is pretty much a solid brown/grey colour with a dark spot at base of the caudal fin, & has a matt black belly - presumably so it cannot be seen from above when swimming inverted.

As for your fishes diet, yours sounds fine, varied, roughage etc. you could try glassworm or live bloodworm, woodlice & chopped earthworms as an occasional treat.

Also you could add another two S.Nigriventris, to stimulate possible breeding, you never know - it has been bred in captivity. If you do find some more - the males are more slender & colourful.

Don't forget to look in the "fish species index" on this site, there is a very helpful article with pictures that may help you with identification.