Breeding the upside-down catfish
Has been bred in aquariums but details are scarce; eggs are laid in a pit in the substrate or in a cave, and the parents tend the clutch.
Step by step
Buy a group of 6+ young fish and let them pair up. Sexing is difficult.
A large tank with caves and floating plants, soft slightly acidic water.
Water changes and good feeding may help. Captive spawning is uncommon.
Up to about 450 eggs reported; fry are free-swimming after about 4 days and swim upright until they turn upside down at 7-8 weeks.
Feed infusoria, then baby brine shrimp. Raise fry in a separate tank.
- Expecting spawns from single fish
- Keeping them in hard, old water
- Not giving hiding caves
Male or female
Males are thinner and darker than females; the genital papillae are too small to use.
Can I breed it in my tank?
- Use a separate small tank with a sponge filter and spawning mops, so the eggs aren't eaten.
- Takes some experience.
Day-by-day plan
Typical for egg scatterers
- 14 days beforeCondition the parents
Feed live or frozen food twice a day. Keep males and females apart if you can.
- Day 0Spawning
Eggs are scattered over mops or fine plants, often at first light. Remove the parents straight after.
- Day 1Eggs hatch
Most eggs hatch in 1–2 days. Keep the tank dim and remove white (fungused) eggs.
- Day 4Free swimming, first food
Fry use up the yolk and start swimming. Feed infusoria or liquid fry food several times a day.
- Day 8Baby brine shrimp
Switch to newly hatched brine shrimp or microworms. Start small, daily water changes.
- Day 21Crushed flake
Add finely crushed flake. Sort fry by size so the big ones don't eat the small ones.
- Day 60Ready to move
Most small fish reach about 2 cm in 2–3 months and can join the main tank.
A general guide for this breeding type. Days change with temperature and species.
Simulator: guided
Feed live or frozen food twice a day. Keep males and females apart if you can.
Simulator: try it yourself
Set up a virtual breeding tank and see what would likely happen.
- Without live or frozen food the parents aren't in breeding condition.
- Corydoras usually need a big, cooler water change (like rain) to start spawning.
An educational estimate from the breeding rules, not a promise.