Neosilurus ater • Plotosidae • Cat-eLog

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Neosilurus ater** (Perugia, 1894)
Common Name(s)	Australian Eel-tailed Catfish, Black Catfish, Black Finned Eel Catfish, Butter Jew, Narrow-Fronted Tandan
Type Locality	Inawi, Papua, New Guinea.
Synonym(s)	Lambertia atra, Neosilurus mediobarbis, Tandanus ater
Pronunciation	Nee oh see loo russ - A terr
Etymology	The generic name comes from the Latin neo, meaning new and Silurus, a catfish name frequently used to form generic names. The specific epithet means black in Latin, and refers to the blackish colour of this species
Species Information
Size	450mm (17.7") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	Distinguished from congeners by its relatively elongate snout. Gray to blackish overall (sometimes mottled), paler on the belly. In some populations, both sexes develop a bright golden-orange hue on the sides during breeding.
Habitat Information
Distribution	Northern Australia and central-southern New Guinea. Australia waters, Northern Australia Waters (click on these areas to find other species found there) Pacific, South Pacific, New Guinea Pacific area, New Guinea Waters, Central New Guinea Waters (click on these areas to find other species found there) Pacific, South Pacific, New Guinea Pacific area, New Guinea Waters, Southern New Guinea Waters (click on these areas to find other species found there) (Click the map-icon to show/hide map of species distribution)
pH	6.4 - 7.6
Temperature	20.0-27.0°C or 68-80.6°F (Show others within this range)
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Feeds on molluscs, insects and prawns in the wild. Carnivorous but not a fussy eater in the aquarium. Will not eat small fishes.
Furniture	Found in rivers and smaller streams, usually where currents are relatively swift. Thus, plenty of swimming space is required. Hiding spaces in the form of PVC pipes and / or driftwood are necessary.
Compatibility	A peaceful, solitary species. Can be safely kept with smaller fishes.
Breeding	In northern Australia, breeding takes place during December in shallow areas with a good water flow and a sand / gravel substrate. Eggs of about 2 mm in diameter are produced.
Further Information
References	Ann. Wien. Mus. Naturges.v. 1 (no. 1) - pp25 Allen, GR, H Midgley & M Allen, 2002. Field guide to the freshwater fishes of Australia. Western Australian Museum, Perth. 394 pp.
Registered Keepers	(1) snowball, (2) Jools (k: 3), (3) Albinoblackcatfish, (4) Snowy (k: 6), (5) amiidae, (6) Lenna, (7) MilkMan, (8) milosz. Click on a username above to see all that persons registered catfish species. You can also view all "my cats" data for this species.
Breeding Reports	None.
Articles	- CotM 2007 October
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Last Update	2011 Sep 10 05:55 (species record created: 2001 Apr 24 00:00)

Cat-eLog Data Sheet

Scientific Name

Neosilurus ater (Perugia, 1894)

Common Name(s)

Australian Eel-tailed Catfish, Black Catfish, Black Finned Eel Catfish, Butter Jew, Narrow-Fronted Tandan

Type Locality

Inawi, Papua, New Guinea.

Synonym(s)

Lambertia atra, Neosilurus mediobarbis, Tandanus ater

Pronunciation

Nee oh see loo russ - A terr

Etymology

The generic name comes from the Latin neo, meaning new and Silurus, a catfish name frequently used to form generic names. The specific epithet means black in Latin, and refers to the blackish colour of this species

Species Information

Size

450mm (17.7") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.

Identification

Distinguished from congeners by its relatively elongate snout. Gray to blackish overall (sometimes mottled), paler on the belly. In some populations, both sexes develop a bright golden-orange hue on the sides during breeding.

Habitat Information

Distribution

Northern Australia and central-southern New Guinea.
Australia waters, Northern Australia Waters (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Pacific, South Pacific, New Guinea Pacific area, New Guinea Waters, Central New Guinea Waters (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Pacific, South Pacific, New Guinea Pacific area, New Guinea Waters, Southern New Guinea Waters (click on these areas to find other species found there)

(Click the map-icon to show/hide map of species distribution)

6.4 - 7.6

Temperature

20.0-27.0°C or 68-80.6°F (Show others within this range)

Husbandry Information

Feeding

Feeds on molluscs, insects and prawns in the wild. Carnivorous but not a fussy eater in the aquarium. Will not eat small fishes.

Furniture

Found in rivers and smaller streams, usually where currents are relatively swift. Thus, plenty of swimming space is required. Hiding spaces in the form of PVC pipes and / or driftwood are necessary.

Compatibility

A peaceful, solitary species. Can be safely kept with smaller fishes.

Breeding

In northern Australia, breeding takes place during December in shallow areas with a good water flow and a sand / gravel substrate. Eggs of about 2 mm in diameter are produced.

Further Information

References

Ann. Wien. Mus. Naturges.v. 1 (no. 1) - pp25
Allen, GR, H Midgley & M Allen, 2002. Field guide to the freshwater fishes of Australia. Western Australian Museum, Perth. 394 pp.

Registered Keepers

(1) snowball, (2) Jools (k: 3), (3) Albinoblackcatfish, (4) Snowy (k: 6), (5) amiidae, (6) Lenna, (7) MilkMan, (8) milosz.

Click on a username above to see all that persons registered catfish species. You can also view all "my cats" data for this species.

Breeding Reports

None.

Articles