Down the list, usually far down the list, of occasional imports are the mouse or Hemidoras catfish. Most commonly imported of these (and that's not saying much) is this months featured fish.

All members of this family share a common feature in the row of hook like scutes running along the length of the fish, in all species of Hemidoras catfish this feature is quite subdued but still clearly visible.

The common name mouse catfish is very appropriate in terms of its description of both behavior and appearance. This is a "timid beastie" with a sleek over all grey appearance usually spotted making nervous approaches at any food present. In addition, the fishes barbels are forward facing and feathered in such a way as to look much more like the whiskers of a mouse than a cat. They even twitch when food is near!

Their care isn't all that straightforward. The fish are quite difficult to acclimatize for Doradids especially if, at point of sale, they aren't in the best of condition. They are always wild caught and often appear for sale with pinched bellies, hollow faces and/or sunken eyes. Although they can be rescued from such a state it is certainly not without risk - buyer beware! Dutiful attention to water quality and frequent, regular feeding appear key to this fishes survival in the longer term. Once settled however they are easier to care for.

A note on identification. The black top mouse catfish is very similar to another mouse catfish, Nemadoras leporhinus, the main visual difference being the latter's clear dorsal fin with a black marking at its base. Aside from that N. leporhinus has longer leading fin rays. I mention this distinction because both these fish are often imported together with (and this is a rare find) the elongate mouse catfish, Leptodoras linnelli. Furthermore it can be distinguished from the similar Hassarem> catfish by its pointed humeral process. This bony plate behind the gills is more rounded in all species of Hassar cats.

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