Oxydoras niger • Doradidae • Cat-eLog

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Oxydoras niger** (Valenciennes, 1817)
Common Name(s)	Black Talking Catfish, Mother of Snails Catfish, Ripsaw Catfish, Turushuki Catfish
Type Locality	Probably South America [Río Saint Francis, Brazil].
Synonym(s)	Corydoras edentatus, Doras niger, Pseudodoras niger, Rhinodoras niger, Rhinodoras prianomus
Pronunciation	n AYE ger
Etymology	Oxydoras: From the Greek oxys, meaning sharp and doras, meaning skin (also a word commonly used in forming generic names for doradids); in reference to the elongate snout. niger=black
Species Information
Size	900mm (35.4") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	Occasionally amongst imports of Oxydoras niger there are some slightly different specimens which tend to have black coloured fins and a grey coloured body. These so-called contaminants are Oxydoras sifontesi.
Sexing	There are no known external sexual differences. There are however some thoughts and suggestions that there may be some differences in the shape of the bony plates which extend from the head to the edge of the pectoral fins. It has been suggested that the male has a more pointed plate, whilst the female has a more rounded plate. There is no scientific evidence available to support or refute this observation.
Habitat Information
Distribution	Amazon region, Peru, Brazil, Rio Purus, Rio Sao Francisco. Amazon (click on these areas to find other species found there) Amazon, Middle Amazon (Solimoes), Purus (click on these areas to find other species found there) São Francisco (click on these areas to find other species found there) (Click the map-icon to show/hide map of species distribution)
pH	6.0 - 7.8
Temperature	21.0-24.0°C or 69.8-75.2°F (Show others within this range)
Other Parameters	Hardness up to 25°dGH
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Readily accepts all manner of prepared foods. Sinking Catfish Pellets are high on the list, alongside floating pellets and sticks, as well as frozen bloodworm, chopped mussel and earthworms.
Furniture	Large pieces of bogwood and clean plastic drainpipe of suitable diameter for them to hide under. Ideally heater guards should be provided in order for the fish not to burn themselves.
Compatibility	A real "tankbuster" if ever there was one. Quite a character; obviously suited to large accommodation especially if keeping a number of fish together. Peaceful towards other fish and members of its own kind.
Suggested Tankmates	Other doradids such as Spotted, Striped (or Humbug) talking catfish. This fish is truly peaceful and can be trusted with fish of smaller size although anything without armoured or other defence and smaller than around 20% the size of the catfish is risky.
Breeding	Unreported.
Further Information
References	Voyage de Humboldt et Bonpland v. 2 (Title page 1833), pp184.
Registered Keepers	(1) arapaima, (2) Foster9011, who also notes: "My favorite catfish ever. Mine is 9 inches and growing quickly. Tankmate: 13 inch Red Tiger Oscar named "Turbo", and 2 10 inch common plecos.", (3) mikelouth, (4) lazymf, (5) Attu, (6) Freakdaddy, (7) Occellatus, (8) Osiris, (9) jvancan, (10) kntrygrl4lyfe, (11) jiapei, (12) MADRacing, (13) tezr (k: 2), (14) Fbertrand, (15) smegforbrains, (16) too<many>tanks, (17) necrocanis (k: 2), who also notes: "I just got this fish today. He's doing well in my 75 gal growout. Soon he will move to the 350, and from there to the 4000.", (18) ndcp18, (19) magnar33, (20) Djthomas, (21) danny.450, (22) coelacanth, (23) fleahound, (24) Hikarixz, who also notes: "My favorite Doradidae catfish.", (25) markhinch (p: 2), (26) robb harriston, (27) arapaimag (k: 5), (28) kp90 (k: 6), (29) Decker504, (30) capester, (31) Armadillo Del Rio, (32) 2poc, (33) richb, who also notes: "Acquired when a local fish store closed. They had him in a 1000 gallon tank. I got the tank but don't have it set up yet. The fish is in a 360 and looks enormous in there. Eats frozen thawed silversides, pellets, krill...you name it, the fish eats it.", (34) slimrs, (35) redtigrinus, (36) maximus1974 (k: 4), (37) Pcpolo111, (38) MeglaAlex, (39) TheFishGuy, (40) miguel mitchel. 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 2001 February
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Last Update	2013 Feb 10 16:03 (species record created: 2001 Apr 28 00:00)

Cat-eLog Data Sheet

Scientific Name

Oxydoras niger (Valenciennes, 1817)

Common Name(s)

Black Talking Catfish, Mother of Snails Catfish, Ripsaw Catfish, Turushuki Catfish

Type Locality

Probably South America [Río Saint Francis, Brazil].

Synonym(s)

Corydoras edentatus, Doras niger, Pseudodoras niger, Rhinodoras niger, Rhinodoras prianomus

Pronunciation

n AYE ger

Etymology

Oxydoras: From the Greek oxys, meaning sharp and doras, meaning skin (also a word commonly used in forming generic names for doradids); in reference to the elongate snout. niger=black

Species Information

Size

900mm (35.4") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.

Identification

Occasionally amongst imports of Oxydoras niger there are some slightly different specimens which tend to have black coloured fins and a grey coloured body. These so-called contaminants are Oxydoras sifontesi.

Sexing

There are no known external sexual differences. There are however some thoughts and suggestions that there may be some differences in the shape of the bony plates which extend from the head to the edge of the pectoral fins. It has been suggested that the male has a more pointed plate, whilst the female has a more rounded plate. There is no scientific evidence available to support or refute this observation.

Habitat Information

Distribution

Amazon region, Peru, Brazil, Rio Purus, Rio Sao Francisco.
Amazon (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Amazon, Middle Amazon (Solimoes), Purus (click on these areas to find other species found there)
São Francisco (click on these areas to find other species found there)

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

6.0 - 7.8

Temperature

21.0-24.0°C or 69.8-75.2°F (Show others within this range)

Other Parameters

Hardness up to 25°dGH

Husbandry Information

Feeding

Readily accepts all manner of prepared foods. Sinking Catfish Pellets are high on the list, alongside floating pellets and sticks, as well as frozen bloodworm, chopped mussel and earthworms.

Furniture

Large pieces of bogwood and clean plastic drainpipe of suitable diameter for them to hide under. Ideally heater guards should be provided in order for the fish not to burn themselves.

Compatibility

A real "tankbuster" if ever there was one. Quite a character; obviously suited to large accommodation especially if keeping a number of fish together. Peaceful towards other fish and members of its own kind.

Suggested Tankmates

Other doradids such as Spotted, Striped (or Humbug) talking catfish. This fish is truly peaceful and can be trusted with fish of smaller size although anything without armoured or other defence and smaller than around 20% the size of the catfish is risky.

Breeding

Unreported.

Further Information

References

Voyage de Humboldt et Bonpland v. 2 (Title page 1833), pp184.

Registered Keepers

(1) arapaima, (2) Foster9011, who also notes: "My favorite catfish ever. Mine is 9 inches and growing quickly. Tankmate: 13 inch Red Tiger Oscar named "Turbo", and 2 10 inch common plecos.", (3) mikelouth, (4) lazymf, (5) Attu, (6) Freakdaddy, (7) Occellatus, (8) Osiris, (9) jvancan, (10) kntrygrl4lyfe, (11) jiapei, (12) MADRacing, (13) tezr (k: 2), (14) Fbertrand, (15) smegforbrains, (16) too<many>tanks, (17) necrocanis (k: 2), who also notes: "I just got this fish today. He's doing well in my 75 gal growout. Soon he will move to the 350, and from there to the 4000.", (18) ndcp18, (19) magnar33, (20) Djthomas, (21) danny.450, (22) coelacanth, (23) fleahound, (24) Hikarixz, who also notes: "My favorite Doradidae catfish.", (25) markhinch (p: 2), (26) robb harriston, (27) arapaimag (k: 5), (28) kp90 (k: 6), (29) Decker504, (30) capester, (31) Armadillo Del Rio, (32) 2poc, (33) richb, who also notes: "Acquired when a local fish store closed. They had him in a 1000 gallon tank. I got the tank but don't have it set up yet. The fish is in a 360 and looks enormous in there. Eats frozen thawed silversides, pellets, krill...you name it, the fish eats it.", (34) slimrs, (35) redtigrinus, (36) maximus1974 (k: 4), (37) Pcpolo111, (38) MeglaAlex, (39) TheFishGuy, (40) miguel mitchel.

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