Cat-eLog Right Doradidae Right Doradinae Right Hassar  |  | 

Down Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name Hassar orestis  (Steindachner, 1875)
Common Names Black Top Mouse Catfish
Zwergdornwels (Germany)
Type Locality Rio Iça, upper Amazon River, Brazil.
Synonym(s) Hassar notospilus, Hemidoras notospilus, Oxydoras orestis
Pronunciation ha sar - oh res tiss
Etymology Hassar: From the Aruac name of the fish. 
Down Species Information
Size 206mm or 8.1" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification The black top mouse catfish is very similar to another mouse catfish, Tenellus leporhinus, the main visual difference being the latter's clear dorsal fin with a black marking at its base. Aside from that T. leporhinus has longer leading fin rays.
Sexing Similar to Corydoras in that females are larger and rounder than the more slender and smaller males. Male has a longer dorsal ray and the female has rounded pelvic fins.
Down Habitat Information
Distribution South America: Amazon, Orinoco and Essequibo River basins.
Guyana Waters, Coastal Rivers of Guyanas, Essequibo (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Amazon (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Orinoco (click on these areas to find other species found there)

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IUCN Red List Category Least Concern, range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2020.
pH 6.0 - 7.6
Temperature 22.0-25.0°C or 71.6-77°F (Show species within this range)
Down 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. User data.
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 Non 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 Smaller shoaling tetras and Corydoras 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 kepts in shoals to ensure greater boldness and health.
Breeding Unreported in the aquarium.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Down Further Information
Reference Sitzungsberichte der Kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften. Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Classe v. 71 (no. 1), pp 138 [1], Pl. 1.
Registered Keepers There are 34 registered keepers, view all "my cats" data.
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There are 7 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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Last Update 2020 Oct 24 06:10 (species record created: 2001 Apr 21 00:00)