Upside Down Catfish Swims Into Filter

So, I have a 20g tank where I have a upside down catfish with a lot of acceptable hiding places, but he took to my filter underneath it and around the sides. The past few days he disappeared for hours at a time and I thought he took to a new hiding place, but then I was watching the tank checking everything and I notice him swim out of the bottom of my filter and when he was done swimming around and eating, he swam back into it! Does anybody else's do this? I have an Tetra Aquaculture Aqu-tech Power Filter. Is this something I should worry about for him? If it is will it stress him out too much to block his hiding spot?

 

I have 3 upside down cats in my 60gal and I might catch a glimpse of one once a month. They love their hiding places

 

I have 3 upside down cats in my 60gal and I might catch a glimpse of one once a month. They love their hiding places

I've noticed that Ed is very shy lol. So, I shouldn't worry about the filter as long as he's able to get in and out?

 

Mine loves to hang out by the filter.

I'm not sure I understand how it's swimming into the filter itself. There should be a drop where water cascades down to create surface contact which pushes the oxygen into the water. How is the fish swimming into the filter? is your water level low enough so water drops?

the splash surface contact = oxygen pushed into tank

 

Picture of tank showing filter might help.

Mine loves to hang out by the filter.

I'm not sure I understand how it's swimming into the filter itself. There should be a drop where water cascades down to create surface contact which pushes the oxygen into the water. How is the fish swimming into the filter? is your water level low enough so water drops?

the splash surface contact = oxygen pushed into tank

 

Mine loves to hang out by the filter.

I'm not sure I understand how it's swimming into the filter itself. There should be a drop where water cascades down to create surface contact which pushes the oxygen into the water. How is the fish swimming into the filter? is your water level low enough so water drops?

the splash surface contact = oxygen pushed into tank

Yes, my water is low enough. He isn't getting into the top of it just the bottom which is about mid tank. It's the part where is sucks in the water to filter is I believe.

Picture of tank showing filter might help.

I will try to get a picture

 

Picture of tank showing filter might help.

This was the only angle you could really seen the bottom of the filter because of decorations. The arrow is where Ed swims into.

 

I'm confused if the bottom is open why is it surprising if a fish swim into it ? Do you ahve a model number - i could look up the flow of the filter and size of the holes - but i have all sort of fishes that will swim into any nook and cranny that is open. My smallest kuhli kept swimming through the strainer on the filter intake into the canister filter until it got too large to fit between the bars.
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GIven the design i would think there is something missing that covers the opening - some sort of screening or plastic strainer.

This was the only angle you could really seen the bottom of the filter because of decorations. The arrow is where Ed swims into.

 

I'm confused if the bottom is open why is it surprising if a fish swim into it ? Do you ahve a model number - i could look up the flow of the filter and size of the holes - but i have all sort of fishes that will swim into any nook and cranny that is open. My smallest kuhli kept swimming through the strainer on the filter intake into the canister filter until it got too large to fit between the bars.
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GIven the design i would think there is something missing that covers the opening - some sort of screening or plastic strainer.

I will try to see if I can find the model number. I'm not very surprised by it because I know they enjoy hiding places. I was more wondering if this was dangerous and I should block it to keep him from getting hurt.