Data sheet back-swimming Kongowel
German name:
Back-swimming Kongowel
Scientific name:
Synodontis nigriventris
Origin:
Africa: Zaire
Size:
M 8 W 10 cm
Aquarium
Length:
60-100cm
Contents:
Lighting:
Bright
Furnishings:
water values
Temperature:
22-27ºC
carbonate hardness:
total hardness:
°dGH
Behave
Area:
Floor
propagation:
egglayer
Lining:
Omnivore, dry food
Behave:
Peaceful, later loner
Difficulty level:
Beginner
Sources
Posture of the back-swimming Kongowel
6 centimeter back-swimming Kongowel Source: Image on Wikimedia Commons License: Public domain Author: Me
Synodontis nigriventris, back-swimming Congo catfish, grow to a size of 6 to 12 centimeters. Size may be a gender distinguishing feature.
The animals feel more comfortable in a swarm and they need places to hide. Then they come when they are fed. Otherwise you don’t see them much during the day. Backswimming congo catfish do not like too bright lighting.
You need dim light under roots, floating plants or similar. So that they can be seen, there should be no caves in the aquarium, but dark shelters.
If they are rarely seen, it can help to illuminate the aquarium with 2 tubes. One tube is then switched off half an hour before complete darkness. The catfish are more likely to come out then.
Alternatively, the aquarium can be dimly lit with a small lamp next to the aquarium after the lighting time.
The soil should be soft and dark.
In aquarium shops, Synodontis nigriventris usually swim around vigorously, looking for cover or burrows.
Floating plants and large-leaved plants are searched for food from below. Suitable plants are, for example, mussel flowers. The catfish swim on their backs.
If they overeat, their bellies can appear distended, especially if a lot of overcooked lettuce is fed. Only a small lettuce leaf or a piece of cucumber should be fed per catfish.
Breeding of backswimming Congo catfish
Back-swimming Kongowel, 8 centimeters tall Source: Image on Wikimedia Commons License: CC Attr. SA 3.0 Author: Neale Monks
Strong live, frozen and green fodder, strong temperature changes to imitate rain, darkened tanks and soft, slightly acidic water encourage Synodontis nigriventris to spawn. They spawn in PVC pipes, flower pots or coconuts and do a kind of brood care.
Back-swimming congo catfish can be socialized with ancistrus, corydoras, neon tetras, phantom tetras, butterfly cichlids and shrimp.
Shell flowers, Valisneria, Echinodorus ocelot, Anubias, Wildelov fern, Sagitaria and Java moss are suitable for planting.