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Down Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name Liosomadoras oncinus  (Jardine, 1841)
Common Names Jaguar Catfish
Jaguarmalle (Denmark), Jaguarwels, Onca (Germany)
Type Locality Padauiri River, Brazil.
Synonym(s) Arius oncinus
Pronunciation lie oh SEW ma DOOR uss - ONN sin uuss
Etymology From the Greek leios, meaning smooth, soma, meaning body and Doras (a genus of doradid catfishes); in reference to the lack of bony plates on the body (when the genus was described as a doradid). Oncinus from the Latin name of this species namesake, the Jaguar (Panthera onca)
Articles
Article Link - CotM Right 2008 Right October
Down Species Information
Size 170mm or 6.7" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification A beautiful, Jaguar-style, patterned fish that is unmistakable. This species is widely distributed but doesn't appear to show any great difference in appearance between populations from different origins.
Sexing Sexually mature males have a genital papilla which is a modification of the anal fin, they also have thicker and more robust dorsal and pectoral fin spines. Harder to sex younger individuals.
General Remarks A species that becomes active at late dusk and remains so until first light. Spends all of the daytime crammed into a dark spot in the aquarium, or, in nature, driftwood crevices and holes. Liosomadoras is the only genus in Auchenipteridae with a postcleithral process, which is the reason this genus was previously placed in Doradidae.
Down Habitat Information
Distribution South America: Branco River basin.
Amazon, Middle Amazon (Solimoes), Negro (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Amazon (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Amazon, Upper Amazon, Marañón, Ucayali (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Orinoco, Upper Orinoco, Ventuari (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Orinoco, Middle Orinoco, Atabapo (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Amazon, Middle Amazon (Solimoes), Negro, Upper Negro, Casiquiare (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Amazon, Middle Amazon (Solimoes), Japurá, Caquetá (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Amazon, Middle Amazon (Solimoes), Negro, Lower Negro, Branco (Roraima) (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 5.6 - 7.2
Temperature 20.0-28.0°C or 68-82.4°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters Care is required with this species upon import as it is not often clear what water parameters (in the wild) it is used to. It's a reasonably hardy fish, so best to acclimatize in pH of around 6.4-6.6 if the origin is unknown.
Down Husbandry Information
Feeding Accepts a wide variety of foods. Larger frozen foods are preferred. Should be fed when the tank is dark or dimly lit. User data.
Furniture Provide many hiding spots as this fish is very shy and nocturnal if kept in well lit aquaria. Lots of wood, floating plants and dim lighting will allow the fish to feel more comfortable.
Compatibility In general a peaceful fish. It will however fiercely defend its hiding spot against intruders.
Suggested Tankmates Other peaceful fish that are too large to swallow. Enjoys the company of its own species.
Breeding A few undocumented reports of egg laying in this species were all that existed before 2014. Was bred in captivity by US aquarist Jeremy Basch who provided the images documenting eggs and fry development shown here.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Down Further Information
Reference The Natural history of fishes of Guiana, pp 173, Pl. 4.
Registered Keepers There are 88 registered keepers, view all "my cats" data.
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There are 29 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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Last Update 2020 Sep 19 02:17 (species record created: 2001 Apr 13 00:00)