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Large-spot Catfish

Naked Catfish - Upside-Down Catfish Family: Mochokidae

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Synodontis ocellifer Photo © Animal-World: Courtesy David Brough

   The word 'ocellifer' means 'eye-like spot', and the Synodontis Ocellifer certainly has big spots!

   There are several color forms of the Synodontis Ocellifer available. Some have color in the finnage, while others have almost no color other than their large spots. The large spot variety, which is the most attractive of the color forms, used to be quite rare but is fairly common now.

   Although this Synodontis (like most of this genus) gets rather large, reaching up to 8" (20 cm) when mature, it is an excellent addition to a large community aquarium. The Synodontis Ocellifer are fairly hardy fish and are not difficult to keep in a well maintained environment.

For more Information on keeping this fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Freshwater Aquarium

Distribution:
   The Synodontis Ocellifer are found in West and Central African rivers.

Size - Weight:
   These fish get up to 8 inches (20 cm).

Social Behaviors:
   The Synodontis Ocellifer are generally a good community fish and can be kept with any size tank-mates.

Sexual Differences:
   Not known.

Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom:
  These fish will swim in the bottom of the aquarium.

Acceptable Water Conditions:
   Hardness: 2-15° dGH
   Ph: 6.2 to 7.5
   Temp: 72-79° F (22-26° C)

Breeding/Reproduction:
   Has not been bred in captivity.

Availability:
   The Synodontis Ocellifer is available from time to time. The large spot variety used to be quite rare but is fairly common now.

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Latest Comments
This fish grows nine inches. They like earth worms. I will be getting one of these catfish. Jason 2009-07-02
I'm Confused. I see two varieties of "upside down catfish". I own a pair of both, and neither seems to be inverted very much. The variety with the smaller spots and shorter body grow extremely fast and are aggressive eaters. Good community fish. May chase some other catfish when it's feeding time (especially when they get big). (I have a 100 and a 75 gallon tank, each with lots of caves and plants. I have mixed these cats with community, and aggressive tank mates with success.) I have yet to see any pictures of adult "upside down" cats that look exactly like the first one I bought. I have a feeling some pet shop distributors collect many of these from the wild, and some varieties are mixed and mistaken for one another. I'm still unable to identify one of the four I have purchased. -B 2009-02-25
I've found these critters to be extremely hardy. They hide within the driftwood and plants. One grew extra fast and grew from 1.5 inches to 3 inches in 2 months. That fish dominates the others and chases them out of it's territory. At feeding time the big one would quickly rush out from it's favourite hiding place to grab a piece of algae wafer and quickly rush back in. It occassionally fights with the dominating Sailfin pleco for territory and food. A sudden Australian summer heat wave killed 90% of my fish. The Syndontis Ocellifer all survived though it was 35 degrees C (90 degrees F) in the tank for 5 straight days (even with the heater off). Got mine at a bargain. 2 for $25 however a week later the shop increased them to 2 for $55. I find them to be a great addition to any tank. D Ly 2009-02-12
My upside down cat was only an inch when I got him, he is now 15 inches big and five years old. He's been through several tanks and many road trips, very hardy. They told us he would only get six inches when mature, boy were they wrong about this guy. He started eating other fish at four inches. We didn't realize it for a while because it was happening at night, then one night I sat there with a black light (which they don't mind at all) and caught him in the act. So he spent the last four years with my Oscars. He's now too big for them too. It's a pretty sad sight to see three ten inch Oscars being bullied by one fish. Anyway, I keep looking for someone that might know more about this fish. He doesn't seem to fit in any categories I've searched. He's solid black and about as big as a softball in the middle with a long string-like thing hanging at the end of his tail(15 inches without the string). The only fish I've ever seen like him was in an old James Bond movie. dave gross 2008-05-15
i just got a catfish and it is wild! if you don't have a catfish and you want a playful easy-to-care-for fish then i highly recommend going to the pet store and buying a upside down catfish. my experiance has been great! Dot is the name of my catfish and is liveliest fish i have ever had! Holly 2006-05-27
Some of the coolest comments:
A very hardy fish. I have had one for several years, he has been through a few tank changes, and has withstood high and low ph changes. Looks really cool, is easy to take care of and doesnt get too big like some catfish. He has even had some disease on his skin (my fault) and hes come back strong. He is very shy though, only really swimming around the tank at night when nobody is in the room. Andrew 2004-03-13

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Author: David Brough. CFS.