Upside down catfish are some of the most sought after tropical fish by catfish hobbyists. These catfish belong to the genus Synodontis which is made up of nearly 140 species found in Africa, South and Central America. One unique and remarkable feature of this is catfish is the noise it creates, squeaking sounds. The genus Synodontis is known as squeakers by nickname and the reason is because they are able to make sounds through their pectoral fin spines when they are disturbed or being handled. It actually sounds like a squeaking noise generated from rubbing their spines together. These catfish are also known to make these sounds when removed from water, or when frightened and even when angry. Another unique feature is an obvious one; some of the species actually swim with their bellies up, hence their nickname upside down catfish.

 

These freshwater catfish while wildly popular among aquarists are actually an important food source for the people of Africa; this is relative to the larger species of course. Synodontis are typically found in creeks, streams, ponds, lakes, and rivers. With respect to eating these catfish are omnivorous feeder’s consuming a wide range of foods in the wild from seeds and algae to insects, crustaceans and mollusks. Unlike many fish Synodontis females are typically larger than males with advanced growth rates in the beginning years which eventually slow down with age. In any event this wonder family of catfish will provide entertainment and beautiful coloration to your community tank for years to come. Take a look at the species of Synodontis below for catfish available for sale.