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Down Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name Amblydoras nauticus  (Cope, 1874)
Common Names Marbled Talking Catfish
Marbled Raphael Catfish, Marmoreret Tornmalle (Denmark)
Type Locality Nauta, Peru.
Synonym(s) Anadoras nauticus, Zathorax nauticus
Pronunciation am blee door ass - naw tik uss
Etymology Amblydoras: From the Greek amblys, meaning blunt and doras, meaning skin (also a word commonly used in forming generic names for doradids); in reference to the non-serrated dorsal spine. 
Articles
Article Link - CotM Right 2003 Right February
Down Species Information
Size 75mm or 3" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification Reasonably easy to ID although young fish can look quite variable. Some degree of sexual dichromatism exists and the males bear a resemblance to the larger Anadoras grypus. Very often sold under the incorrect name of Amblydoras hancockii.
Sexing Some keepers report that the underside of female is creamy white, the male is freckled as shown below. Males are more slender than the wider (when viewed from above or below) females.
Down Habitat Information
Distribution South America: Upper Amazon River basin.
Amazon, Upper Amazon (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 2014.
Other Parameters This species is not fussy regarding water parameters.
Down Husbandry Information
Feeding A nocturnal scavenger. Younger fish tend to be a little more active during the day, but the best way to ensure this fish is properly fed is to introduce sinking food into the tank after dark. Most foods are accepted gluttonously. Individuals will gorge themselves on food to the point of appearing fit to burst. User data.
Furniture Does not harm plants and all that is really required is a dark place in which the catfish can find refuge. Care must be taken that this is no where near the heater element as these fish will wedge themselves between the heater and the aquarium wall and may burn themselves.
Compatibility A perfect community tank resident.
Suggested Tankmates As all doradids, does well with its conspecifics and other members of the same family. Can be kept with anything from tetras to medium sized cichlids.
Breeding In the aquarium, this species appears to be an egg scatterer. But reports exist of reproduction in the wild which involves a bubble nest built in plants which the male guards. The author has collected very small ( < 10 mm SL) young Amblydoras in semi-aquatic reeds and partially submerged shrubs. No adults were collected in water about 45 cm deep. Youngsters were everywhere and one swipe of the net could turn up 10 or more young.
Breeding Reports There is but a single breeding report, read it here.
Down Further Information
Reference Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia v. 26, pp 133.
Registered Keepers There are 31 registered keepers, view all "my cats" data.
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There are 15 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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Last Update 2023 Mar 29 08:44 (species record created: 2001 Apr 19 00:00)