/loricariidae/hemiloricaria/melini/1.jpg "Hemiloricaria melini(1) - Click to enlarge")
/loricariidae/hemiloricaria/melini/2.jpg "Hemiloricaria melini(2) Dorsal view - Click to enlarge")
/loricariidae/hemiloricaria/melini/3.jpg "Hemiloricaria melini(3) - Click to enlarge")
/loricariidae/hemiloricaria/melini/4.jpg "Hemiloricaria melini(4) - Click to enlarge")
/loricariidae/hemiloricaria/melini/5.jpg "Hemiloricaria melini(5) - Click to enlarge")
/loricariidae/hemiloricaria/melini/6.jpg "Hemiloricaria melini(6) Close-up of dorsal view of head - Click to enlarge")
/loricariidae/hemiloricaria/melini/7.jpg "Hemiloricaria melini(7) - Click to enlarge")
/loricariidae/hemiloricaria/melini/8.jpg "Hemiloricaria melini(8) - Click to enlarge")
/loricariidae/hemiloricaria/melini/9.jpg "Hemiloricaria melini(9) Close-up of head - Click to enlarge")
/loricariidae/hemiloricaria/melini/10.jpg "Hemiloricaria melini(10) - Click to enlarge")
/loricariidae/hemiloricaria/melini/11.jpg "Hemiloricaria melini(11) - Click to enlarge")
/loricariidae/hemiloricaria/melini/12.jpg "Hemiloricaria melini(12) - Click to enlarge")
 Cat-eLog Data Sheet | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Hemiloricaria melini (Schindler, 1959) |
| Common Name(s) | Dappled Whiptail Catfish |
| Type Locality | Rio Solimões near Manacapuru,Brazil |
| Synonym(s) | Loricariichthys melini, Rineloricaria melini |
| Pronunciation | meh LEAN eye |
| Species Information | |
| Size | 130mm (5.1") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp. |
| Identification | Compared with most of the whiptail catfishes imported, this species from the Rio Negro in Brazil stands out because of its striking adult colouration. Young fishes still show the inconspicuous juvenile colouration. Only with increasing age the sometimes orange coloured, black margined dappled blotches become clearly visible. The species is sometimes mistakenly identified as H. teffeana from the Rio Tefé in the literature, but agrees in all aspects with the description of H. melini. |
| Sexing | Males grow short spines in the top of their heads and pectoral fins. |
| General Remarks | This species is widely distributed in the middle course of the Rio Negro and is occasionally, but rarely, imported via Manaus. |
| Habitat Information | |
| Distribution | Middle course of the Rio Negro, Brazil. Amazon, Middle Amazon (Solimoes)  , Negro, Middle Negro (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there) |
| pH | 4.5 - 6.5 |
| Other Parameters | Soft water is required for this species. |
| Husbandry Information | |
| Feeding | Adaptable omnivores, these fish will eat most foods from cucumber or zucchini slices to frozen bloodworm or dry flake foods. |
| Furniture | The fish should be provided with half-pipe type refuges which also often be used as spawning sites. |
| Compatibility | Peaceful and not territorial. |
| Breeding | Unreported. |
| Further Information | |
| References | Ark. Zool. v. 12 (no. 26) 387 Fig. 1 |
| Registered Keepers | (1) CatBrat, (2) Walter, (3) DiHo, (4) Sutrisno (p: 2), (5) Tchitchou44, (6) gretchenellie, (7) Sven_N (k: 6). 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 |
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| Hits | 8915 hits. |
| Last Update | 2010 Jun 03 13:00 (species record created: 2001 Nov 23 00:00) |
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