Floating plants are also recommended, since they block out light in a natural way. At maturity, the Upside Down Catfish will reach a size of four to six inches. They have dark green to black bodies, with various spots of brown to gray. They have rayed fins, which give the fish an exotic, somewhat dangerous look. Their bodies are long and narrow, which allows them to be extremely quick and agile.
Females tend to be rounder in body than males.
The females can be further distinguished by their lighter coloring. The Upside Down Catfish, or Synodontis nigriventris is from North Africa, mainly Zaire. In their natural habitat they are known to form large schools. They are commonly seen in streams, rivers and ponds with muddy bottoms. They can also be seen near the shoreline in vegetation.