Hemidoras stenopeltis • Doradidae • Cat-eLog • PlanetCatfish

Dorsal view of head

Dorsal view

Close-up of head

Hemidoras below, Nemadoras above.

Close-up of barbles

Dorsal view

Cat-eLog Data Sheet

Scientific Name

Hemidoras stenopeltis (Kner, 1855) - add this species to your "My Cats" page.

Common Name(s)

Mouse Catfish

Synonym(s)

Doras stenopeltis

Etymology

Hemidoras: From the Greek hemi, meaning half, and doras, meaning skin (also a word commonly used in forming generic names for doradids); in reference to the similarity to Doras (another doradid genus).

Species Information

Size

120mm (4.7") SL

Show near, nearer or same sized spp.

Identification

The black top mouse catfish is very similar to another mouse catfish, Nemadoras leporhinus, the main visual difference being the latter's clear dorsal fin with a black marking at its base. Aside from that N. leporhinus has longer leading fin rays. Key characters are deep plates, pointed humeral process (vs. rounded in Leptodoras), short pointed snout, plates along back (also along ventral midline before anal fin) and tip of dorsal fin dipped in black.

Habitat Information

Distribution

South America: Rio Amazonas basin common in the area around Iquitos, Peru.
Amazon (click on these areas to find other species found there)

6.0 - 7.6

Temperature

22.0-25.5°C or 71.6-77.9°F (Show others)

Husbandry Information

Feeding

Until acclimatized, the fish appears quite selective and like small foods. Crushed flake or sinking flake-based tablets best for smaller individuals although brineshrimp is taken by species around the 2'' mark. Larger, more settled fish are easier to feed and become very active during feeding.

Furniture

Dense vegetation empowers this fish with a much needed sense of confidence in it's surroundings. Caves or dark refuges appear less important.

Compatibility

Not aggressive and, as with all Doradids, sociable with its own species. Smaller fish appear to have an innate fear of larger fish and becomes very shy in their presence.

Suggested Tankmates

Shoaling tetras and Brochis are ideal. Dwarf cichlids and smaller labyrinth fish (Gouramis etc) are also suitably gentile. Larger, acclimatized fish will do well in a medium to large community set-up. At any size, best kept in shoals to ensure greater boldness and health.

Breeding

Unreported.

Further Information

References

Sitzungsber. Akad. Wiss. Wienv. 17 - pp142 [53] - Pl. 4 (fig. 7)

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Registered Keepers

None.

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