/doradidae/orinocodoras/eigenmanni/1.jpg "Orinocodoras eigenmanni(1) - Click to enlarge")
/doradidae/orinocodoras/eigenmanni/2.jpg "Orinocodoras eigenmanni(2) - Click to enlarge")
/doradidae/orinocodoras/eigenmanni/3.jpg "Orinocodoras eigenmanni(3) - Click to enlarge")
/doradidae/orinocodoras/eigenmanni/4.jpg "Orinocodoras eigenmanni(4) - Click to enlarge")
/doradidae/orinocodoras/eigenmanni/5.jpg "Orinocodoras eigenmanni(5) Dorsal view of pair - Click to enlarge")
/doradidae/orinocodoras/eigenmanni/6.jpg "Orinocodoras eigenmanni(6) - Click to enlarge")
/doradidae/orinocodoras/eigenmanni/8.jpg "Orinocodoras eigenmanni(8) Ventral view - Click to enlarge")
/doradidae/orinocodoras/eigenmanni/9.jpg "Orinocodoras eigenmanni(9) Close-up of dorsal area - Click to enlarge")
/doradidae/orinocodoras/eigenmanni/10.jpg "Orinocodoras eigenmanni(10) Close-up of head - Click to enlarge")
/doradidae/orinocodoras/eigenmanni/11.jpg "Orinocodoras eigenmanni(11) - Click to enlarge")
/doradidae/orinocodoras/eigenmanni/12.jpg "Orinocodoras eigenmanni(12) Lateral view - Click to enlarge")
 Cat-eLog Data Sheet | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Orinocodoras eigenmanni Myers, 1927 |
| Common Name(s) | Eigenmann's Talking Catfish |
| Type Locality | Caño de Quiribana near Caicara, Venezuela. |
| Pronunciation | or in oko DOOR ass - ay gen MAN eye |
| Etymology | Orinocodoras: From the Orinoco River and doras, meaning skin (also a word commonly used in forming generic names for doradids); in reference to the distribution. Species named in honour of Dr. Carl H. Eigenmann, Professor of Ichthyology in Indiana (1863-1927). |
| Species Information | |
| Size | 200mm (7.9") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp. |
| Identification | Can be distinguished from Platydoras armatulus, the striped or humbug talking catfish, as follows: snout is more pointed, whereas P. armatulus has a rounded snout. Eyes of O. eigenmanni are smaller. O. eigenmanni has a longer adipose fin. The skin of O. eigenmanni looks less plated and in almost like sandpaper in areas. Generally, the 'Orinoco' is by far the most elegant fish of the two. Soemtimes imported under incorrect names. Anyone who is interested in O. eigenmanni must look carefully through shipments of P. armatulus, for that is where they may be. And if so, you will easily spot them. |
| Sexing | Males are smaller and slighter. In larger fish a top view may give something away: males are more slender, adult females are more than 25% larger than similarly mature males. Differences in belly colouration have little to do with gender. |
| General Remarks | A monotypic genus. |
| Habitat Information | |
| Distribution | Orinoco system, Venezuela (Caño de Quiribana near Caicara) Orinoco  (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there) |
| pH | 6.0 - 7.8 |
| Temperature | 22.0-27.0°C or 71.6-80.6°F (Show others within this range) |
| Other Parameters | A hardy fish that will adapt to most conditions. Moderate current is preferred. |
| Husbandry Information | |
| Feeding | Will eat anything; particularly fond of bloodworms and pellets or tablets. Is very visible when fed, even during the day. |
| Furniture | Driftwood for hiding places. However, as the fish grows quite large, see to it that it remains able to swim. If necessary redecorate. Will not ruin plants. Ensure heater is not used as a hiding place. |
| Compatibility | A community fish for medium to larger aquariums; not suited for life with very aggressive fish or very, very small fish, the later may accidentally be regarded as food. |
| Suggested Tankmates | Goes very well with other peaceful catfish and characins. Can be kept alone, as a pair but best in a small group. |
| Breeding | Unreported. |
| Further Information | |
| References | Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool.v. 68 (no. 3) - pp124 Burgess Atlas page 585 misnamed as Megalodoras sp. Mayland: Welse aus aller Welt page 72 Mayland: Welse aus allen Erdteilen page 108 Sands: Vol.4 page 38 Franke: Welskunde page 192 Not in Mergus volumes so far. Maximum lengths in the above mentioned books are between 12 and 16 cm, but aquarist report them as getting larger. Perhaps only females. |
| Registered Keepers | (1) Dave Rinaldo, (2) ali12345, (3) lazymf, (4) vyperboy, (5) big_tank_boy, (6) Mike C (k: 4), (7) Wiccatfish, (8) MatsP (p: 2, k: 8), (9) JamieH (k: 2), (10) knifegill, (11) Jools (k: 5), (12) tijani, (13) maynard1982, (14) Sam (k: 4), (15) DeepFriedIctalurus (k: 5), (16) ilikefishme, (17) james gilbertson, who also notes: "Never see this fish much, only when i turn the lights on in the morning". Click on a username above to see all that persons registered catfish species. You can also view all "my cats" data for this species.  Add this species to your "my cats" page. |
| Breeding Reports | None. |
| More Resources |
 - CotM  2010 August -
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| Hits | 13639 hits. |
| Last Update | 2010 Aug 21 06:27 (species record created: 2001 May 15 00:00) |
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