Why is my catfish swimming upside down?

[bun-k]

Donald Duck!

My catfish keeps swimming upside down, under the corals, near the surface...lol

What does that mean?

 

[nitro]

Could you tell us the name of the 'catfish'. is it a freshwater or Saltwater tank?

 

[themikestro]

There's a good chance it's an upside down catfish! I've seen a pinkish purple one before, they are born as normal swimmers and gradually flip upside down and pretty much stay there!
I can't remember the Latin name a sydontis (?) of some kind?

 

[nitro]

Yes its probably an upside down catfish.

Look at these to see if these are similar to yours?

Picture 1

Picture 2

Picture3


Hope this helps.

 

[Phantom Thief]

Upside down catfish is synodontis negriventris, or a much rarer species is synodontis contractus. Ask if you need more info on them.

P.T.

edit: it was 'As if you need more info on them', what a typo!

 

[Wyld-Fyre]

Forum newbies helping newer forum members?!

 

[Doggfather]

If it spends most of it's time on it's back and only inverts during feeding time, it's most likely an upside down catfish, synodontis negriventris, however, it it spends little amounts of time on it's back it could be another type of syodontis catfish.

Most Synodontis catfish have the ability to swim 'upside down' but some of the members of the genus prefer this meathod of swimming more than others.

Good luck